Court Report

Forgetful Driver Ends up in Court

A County Tyrone driver has been convicted at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £600 plus a £15 offender levy.

The conviction arose when DVA Enforcement Officers stopped a 2 axle Scania articulated lorry at the Harbour Highway, Larne. Analysis of the vehicle’s tachograph charts identified infringements pertaining to driving whilst failing to use recording equipment (3 occasions) and failing to take daily rest (1 occasion). The driver was interviewed and cautioned. When the driver was asked about the infringements of driving whilst failing to use recording equipment he replied: ‘To be honest it’s hard for me to remember what happened on these occasions as to why my card was not used.’

Van Driver Didn’t Have Licence

A County Down haulage operator has been convicted at Banbridge Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £900 plus a £15 offender levy.

The conviction arose when DVA Enforcement Officers observed a Volkswagen Crafter van and directed the driver to take the vehicle to the Department’s weighbridge facility at Sprucefield for the purposes of an inspection and weigh check. The vehicle was found to be overweight by 89 kgs in excess of its maximum permitted gross train weight of 5,000 kgs and overweight on the 1st axle by 108kgs. Further checks revealed that the driver did not have a Category 1 driving licence and was therefore uninsured. Analysis of the tachograph recording equipment revealed that a driver card had not been inserted and the tachograph had not been calibrated. The driver was interviewed and cautioned. At a later date the operator was also interviewed and cautioned.

Exceeded Fortnightly Driving Time

A Republic of Ireland haulage driver was convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £800 plus a £15 levy after DVA Enforcement Officers examined a 3 axle Scania Articulated goods vehicle in combination with a 3 axle Jost Taut liner trailer at the Department’s weighbridge facility at Sprucefield.

Analysis of the driver’s tachograph records identified infringements pertaining to exceeding fortnightly driving time (2 occasions) and failing to take daily rest (2 occasions). The driver was interviewed and cautioned. As the driver was unable to provide a UK address, three court deposits totalling £900 were taken at the roadside and held pending the outcome of the prosecution case.

Goods Vehicle Found to be Overweight

A County Tyrone haulage driver was convicted at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £400 plus a £15 levy.

The conviction arose when DVA Enforcement Officers examined a 3 axle DAF goods vehicle at the Department’s weighbridge facility at Larne harbour. A weight check of the vehicle found that the vehicle was overweight by 790kgs in excess of its maximum permitted gross train weight of 26,000kgs and overweight on the maximum permissible for closely spaced axles 2 and 3 by 2,830kgs. A prohibition notice was issued to the driver for the load to be adjusted and re-weighed before departure. The driver was interviewed and cautioned.

Fined Over Series of Tachograph Offences

A County Armagh operator was convicted at Ballymena magistrates’ court and fined a total of £2,100 plus a £15 offender levy after DVA Enforcement Officers examined a 2 axle articulated Renault in combination with a Gray + Adams trailer in the vicinity of Larne harbour.

Analysis of the driver’s digital smart card identified multiple infringements including failure to download relevant data from a tachograph (2 occasions), employer failing to use recording equipment (9 occasions), employer of driver contravening requirement of community rules (1 occasion) and employing driver where contravention of community rules (1 occasion). The operator did not attend an interview despite numerous invites being submitted.

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