• Using a public service vehicle while it was subject
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to a prohibition notice has cost West Yorkshire minibus operator Reginald Bolton, trading as Aireview Motors, 280 in fines and costs.
Bolton, of Silsden, admitted the offence before Bingley magistrates.
Prosecuting for the North Eastern Traffic Area, Richard Wadkin said that in February a vehicle examiner had imposed an immedite prohibition on a 17-seater minibus belonging to the defendant, because of mechanical defects.
The vehicle had been presented to the Steeton Test Station for clearance on 3 May. After inspecting the vehicle, however, an examiner had refused to lift the prohibition because of a brake defect. On 9 May another examiner had been in Kirkgate, Silsden, when he had seen the vehicle carrying passengers and being driven by Bolton, who had been aware that it was still under prohibition and had already turned down one job. He had used it to do a trip of about 1.5km on the Monday night because he had not wanted to let people down.
In a letter to the court, Bolton said that he had been foolish to use the vehicle. It had, however, been in a roadworthy condition and had in fact passed its test the following day.
The magistrates fined Bolton £50 and ordered him to pay E30 prosecution costs.