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Firm fined after driver uses wrong licence
Page 34
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A COMPANY running 160 vehicles has been ordered to pay £500 in fines and costs for permitting a driver to drive without the correct licence and without insurance. The driver had been dealt with at an earlier hearing.
Slough-based Watkins & Sole admitted the offences when the case came before the Hertford magistrates.
Prosecuting for Vosa, Anthony Ostrin said a Mercedes two-axlecl rigid vehicle with a gross weight of 7.5 tonnes was stopped in an organised check and traffic examiner Ernest Watson spoke to the driver. who gave his name as Gareth Williams. Enquirie revealed that Williams had only a category B licence authorising him to drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes,and examination of the insurance certificate showed that the insurance would only be valid if the driver held the correct licence for driving the vehicle.
Managing director Michael Higgins told the court there was only a junior manager in charge on the day in question and he clearly did not bother to make all necessary enquiries. The company had approached two of Williams' previous employers who both confirmed that he held an appropriate licence. The company operated 160 vehicles with more than 25C staff and had been in business for 33 years. It had £30m turnover and no previous convictions.
At a previous hearing Williams. of Harlington Middlesex, had pleaded guilty to driving the vehicic without a licence. using the vehicle without insurana and exceeding41/2 hours' driving without the require( break. He was fined £470 with £115 costs.