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Court Report
£1000 Fine On Series of Offences
The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners stopped a 2 + 3 axle articulated goods vehicle in the vicinity of Belfast and directed the driver to take the vehicle to the Department’s Weighbridge facility at Sprucefield for the purposes of an inspection and weight check. The driver indicated that he was going to take a break and refused a request to produce his current tachograph card. The vehicle was subsequently taken to Sprucefield Weighbridge and the vehicle was found to be overweight on its gross train weight by 5,930 kgs (14.82%). A number of additional offences were also identified in relation the driver and these included obstruction of an authorised officer by initially failing to proceed to the weighbridge as directed, no CPC qualification and failure to produce analogue record sheets when requested. Despite numerous requests the driver did not make himself available for interview.
Failed to Take Daily Rest
A County Tyrone driver was convicted at Belfast magistrates’ court and fined a total of £600 plus a £15 offender levy after DVA Vehicle Examiners stopped and inspected a 3 axle articulated unit in combination with a 3 axle trailer in Belfast.
The driver was asked to produce his tachograph card and following an analysis of the downloaded data it was revealed that the driver had failed to take the required daily rest on six occasions whilst driving. The minimum Daily Rest period required in a 24 hour period is 11 hours which can be reduced to 9 hours on three occasions each week. The driver was subsequently cautioned and interviewed.
Tachograph Offences
A County Antrim Driver was convicted at Lisburn Magistrates Court and fined a total of £550 plus £15 offender levy. The charges related to a 3 + 3 axle articulated HGV being stopped during an operation in Belfast and directed to the Department’s Weighbridge facility at Garmoyle Street, Belfast for the purposes of an inspection. The driver was cautioned and the interview suspended pending further analysis of the data downloaded from the vehicle unit. Further analysis revealed a number of offences relating to failing to make proper use of Records Sheets or Driver Card (failing to use recording equipment) and failure to take a break after 4 ½ hours driving. The driver was subsequently cautioned and interviewed.
Exceeded Daily Driving Hours
A Republic of Ireland driver has been convicted at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £500 plus £15 offender levy. The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners stopped and inspected a 3 + 3 axle articulated goods vehicle in the vicinity of Larne. The driver was asked to produce his tachograph card and following an analysis of the downloaded data it was revealed that the driver had failed to take a daily rest on one occasion and had exceeded the daily driving period on two occasions. The driver was subsequently cautioned and interviewed. The alleged offences were highlighted to the driver and as the offences warranted a court hearing and as he was unable to provide a satisfactory UK address the driver was required to pay three Court Deposits (totalling £900) at the roadside. The Court Deposits were held pending attendance at court.
Dangerous Vehicle
A County Antrim driver received a fine of £500 plus a £15 offender levy and had his driving licence endorsed with 3 penalty points following a conviction at Belfast Magistrates’ Court. The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners were on duty in the Belfast area when a 2 axle rigid goods vehicle towing a 2 axle trailer was observed and directed to the Department’s Weighbridge facility at Sprucefield for the purposes of an inspection and weight check. The vehicle was found to be overloaded on its 2nd axle by 2,254kgs (40.2%), by 3,529kgs (47%) on its gross vehicle weight and 2,458kgs (22.3%) on its gross train weight. The vehicle was overloaded to such an extent a prohibition notice was issued requiring the load to be adjusted on site to the legal weight before entering a public road. The driver was subsequently cautioned and interviewed. The driver when asked to comment on the dangerous overload of the vehicle replied, ‘I wasn’t aware that it was overweight by as much as it is. If I was to have known I wouldn’t have taken it on the road. I would never knowingly take a dangerous vehicle on the road’.
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