Philipsons suspended
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• A failure by Haltwistle hauliers Richard and Janice Philipson to attend a Leeds disciplinary inquiry was described as "a flagrant contempt of this court", by North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Brian Horner when he suspended the partners' licence with immediate effect.
DOT vehicle examiner John Johnson said that although the one vehicle and trailer operated were in a satisfactory condition when he examined them in July, no inspection records could be produced for the period between November 1992 and June 1993. Neither were there any drivers' defect report sheets. Richard Philipson was unable to give any explanation for the lack of maintenance records,
Horner said that the partners had also failed to report convictions for overloading and the non-payment of vehicle excise duty.
Fines, costs and back duty in respect of the latter offences totalled over £3,760.
Every step had been taken to warn the partners that they should attend the public inquiry. They were asked to provide explanations in advance for the failure to keep inspection records, to set up a driver defect reporting system and to produce details of their financial position. The was possible therefore that pub partners had not replied to these requests.
Although the condition of the vehicle and trailer were satisfactory at the time of the examiner's visit, there was no evidence to suggest any maintenance had been carried out between January and June. It lie safety had been put in jeopardy.
Suspending the licence and directing that the licence identity disc be immediately seized, Homer said that it was essential that the partners appeared at a public inquiry to account for their conduct. Their 0-licence will remain suspended until they do so.