Hours offences cost £1,810
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• Hours offences have cost Halifax international haulier PJ Coulton, its managing director and four of its drivers 21,870 in fmes and costs.
Senior traffic examiner Bryan Walscher told Brighouse magistrates that managing director Patrick Coulton had failed to ensure that he and the company's drivers complied with the hours regulations on international runs. Coulton himself had failed to take the required amount of daily rest on 3 November, being on duty for a total of 32hrs 35min_ Coulton also admitted driving for more than 41/2 hours without the required amount of break and failing to take a weekly rest period.
Simon Moore, defending, said it was not suggested that Coulton had driven continuously for 32hrs 35min. He had taken rest periods but not of the required length_ He had broken the 41/2-hour rule because he had felt ill and had decided to carry on home.
The prosecution had to show that the company had been careless in allowing the offences to occur, to prove that it was guilty of permitting them. The charges against the company would have been defended, but due to Coulton's ill health, the prosecution had agreed to accept guilty pleas to two specimen offences. The magistrates fined Coulton 2150 and the company £600.
The drivers were Peter Cunningham of Halifax who was fined 2350 for three offences of taking insufficient rest and one of failing to keep a tachograph record; Harry Dowbiggen of Preston, fined 2300 for two offences of insufficient rest and one of failing to keep a record; James McBride of Bradford, fined 2300 for five offences of insufficient rest and one of exceeding 41/2 hours' driving without the required break; and Eric Watkiss of Bradford, fined 2200 for three offences of insufficient rest and one 41/2 hours' driving offence.
Each of the defendants was ordered to pay £25 costs.