Jargon blamed Excess hours cost £3,655
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The complexity and jargon of operator licensing forms was blamed for the unauthorised use of a vehicle by Pontypool based owner-driver Thomas Edwards.
Edwards, who trades as T&H Commercials, admitted using a vehicle without the authority of an 0-licence when he appeared before IJanelli magistrates. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay L35 prosecution costs.
The court heard that when Edwards was stopped in a check in West Wales last March the vehicle he was driving was not specified on his 0-licence, For Edwards, Mark Jenkins said the 0-licensing forms and regulations were difficult even for solicitors to follow. Edwards' original vehicle was stolen and he bought a replacement and put it on the road. He had considered changing the registration number on his 0-licence but family members who helped him with his paperwork examined the forms and told him it was riot necessary.
Pointing out that Edwards had not been operating more vehicles than he was licensed for, Jenkins said the letter of the law had been broken but the spirit of the law had not. Na faults had been found on the vehicle when it was stepped in the check. Edwards could not read and he relied on family members to deal with his paperwork.