Legal Proceedings

During the past few months magistrates in Greater London have shown no hesitation in imposing heavy fines on companies infringing the Petroleum Spirit (Conveyance by Road) Regulations, 1957.

On 9th April, 1968, a tank wagon, WPU 639F, owned by Kingsford Haulage (Bulk Liquids) Ltd. was found to have the filling caps of all its six compartments unlocked and flung wide open (Reg. 12(2)) and to have no fire extinguishers (Reg. 6). The magistrates imposed a total fine of £175 (£25 on each of seven informations) plus ten guineas costs when the case was heard at Hendon Magistrates Court on 30th September, 1968.

On 29th July, 1968, an inspector found a tank wagon, XNA 522, owned by Gem Petroleum Co. Ltd., infringing the Regulations in that (a) the fuel tank was leaking and held on by a piece of string (Reg. 11) and (b) two filling openings caps were unlocked, one of which was also insecurely closed (Reg. 12(2)). At Woolwich Magistrates Court on 22nd August, 1968, the company was fined £65 and ordered to pay five guineas costs.

V.l.P. Petroleum Co. Ltd., suffered a total penalty of £50 plus five guineas costs at Feltham Magistrates Court on lst April, 1969, because its tank wagon HRJ 514D was found on 7th October, 1968 (a) to have a defective delivery hose which was permitting escape of petroleum spirit (Reg. 11) and (b) to have two filling opening caps unlocked and insecurely closed (Reg. 12(2)).

A fine of £75 was imposed on ABCO Petroleum Co. Ltd. at Havering Magistrates Court on lOth December, 1968. The company's tank wagon SAN 469A was seen on 26th August to have all six of its filling opeding caps unlocked and insecurely closed (Reg. 12(2)). .

Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd. was fined £60 with ten gumeas costs at Highgate Magistrates Court on 26th March, 1969. One manlid of the company's tank wagon, 168 GLU, was found to be unlocked and insecurely closed (Reg. on llth Oct.ober, 1968; moreover, the locking mechamsm of the manhd was defective (Reg. 11).

The. heaviest fine of all was, however, imposed on Crow Carrymg Co. Ltd. at Croydon Magistrates Court on llth April.' The company had to pay £439 in fines 20 gumeas m costs for infringements involvmg three of its tank wagons delivering petroleum spirit Gas Works. None of the vehicles carried fire extmgmshers (Reg. 6-£10 each); eleven filling opening caps were unlocked and insecurely closed (Reg. 12(2)-£20 each), and nine of them had inoperable locks (Reg. 11-£20 each). Moreover, four of the company's drivers were fined £5 each for failing to keep a watch on the carrying tanks of their vehicles while petroleum spirit was being delivered (Reg. 16(9)).

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