A Grave Warning to Hauliers to Shun Misrepresentation Through. Hours Records. Licensing Authorities Know Just When Vehicles are
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Off the Road
If you have had vehicles off the road, whether you are asked for your drivers' log sheets or any other inquiry is made, go to the Licensing Authority and explain to the best of your ability why the machines were not being used at that particular period. If your explanation be reasonable, it is possible that you may be granted your licence in full without the need for attending a public inquiry.
Records Must be Preserved.
Section 19 (4) of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, says : " The holder of a licence shall preserve every record (i.e., drivers' log sheets) kept under regulations made under this section for a period of six months . . . and for such further period, not exceeding six months, as may be required by the licensing authority or a chief officer of police, and, during the period for which he is required . . . to preserve a record shall, if required . . . produce the record for inspection. . ."
Section 34 (I) says: "If, with intent to deceive, any person . . . alters an entry made in a record under section sixteen of this Act, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable " (1) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; "(2) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four months or to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, or to both such imprisonment and fine."
There is only one way to retain the status quo of your business. Keep every vehicle licensed, keep every vehicle at work. For remember, although a vehicle is licensed, you may still be asked for the log sheets to prove that you have been using the vehicle.
Nothing could be more inimical to stabilization of the industry than official action which encourages such a manifestly uneconomic and wasteful method of business. That, nowever, is a matter for another article.
Be warned. STATUS Quo.