Court Report March 2018

Driver Cautioned Over ‘Dangerous Vehicle’

A County Down Driver has been convicted at Newry Magistrates’ Court and fined £1,100 plus £15 costs after DVA Vehicle Examiners directed a DAF large good vehicle in combination with an Indox trailer to the Department’s weighbridge site at Loughbrickland for the purposes of an inspection and weight check.

The vehicle was weighed and found to be overloaded by 1,930kgs (16.7%) on the 2nd axle, 3,610 (20%) on the gross vehicle weight and 2,230kgs (5.6%) on the gross vehicle weight. An analysis of the driver’s tachograph charts also revealed that the driver failed to use the tachograph to record his journey that day.

The trailer was also examined and it was noted that the offside 1st axle suspension spring was broken which rendered the vehicle in a dangerous condition. A prohibition notice was issued in relation to the dangerous and overweight vehicle, prohibiting the driving of the trailer on the road until repair and acquittal at a DVA Test Centre. The driver was cautioned and interviewed regarding the offences.

Operator Fined £1,000

A Republic of Ireland operator was convicted at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £1,000 plus £15 costs when a 3 axle DAF articulated lorry in combination with a 3 axle tipper trailer was stopped in the vicinity of the A1 Dromore for the purposes of an inspection.

An analysis of the driver’s tachograph charts revealed multiple breaches of exceeding daily rest period under the NI Domestic Rules for driver’s hours.  It was also noted that vehicle’s tachograph unit was out of calibration.

The operator was cautioned and interviewed regarding the offences. As the operator lived outside Northern Ireland three court deposits were issued and held pending the outcome of the prosecution case.

Prosecuted for being overweight

A Republic of Ireland driver was convicted at Banbridge Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £885 plus £15 Levy after DVA Vehicle Examiners directed a Volvo large goods vehicle in combination with a trailer to the Department’s weighbridge site at Loughbrickland for the purposes of an inspection and weight check.

The vehicle was found to be overloaded on the trailer by 3,050 kgs (12%), overloaded by 1,010kgs (5.6%) on the Gross Vehicle Weight and overloaded by 6,060kgs (15%) on the Gross Train Weight. A prohibition notice was issued prohibiting the vehicle from driving on the road until the load was adjusted to the legal weight.

As the driver lived outside Northern Ireland three court deposits were issued and held pending the outcome of the prosecution case.

Tachograph  Offences

A Republic of Ireland driver has been convicted at Newry Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £750 plus £15 offender levy.

The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners directed a three axle Scania articulated lorry in combination with a 3 axle trailer to the Department’s weighbridge site at Loughbrickland for the purposes of an inspection and weigh check.

A number of tachograph offences were identified relating to the driver failing to take the required daily rest on five occasions whilst driving. As the operator lived outside Northern Ireland three court deposits were issued and held pending the outcome of the prosecution case.

Penalty Points on Licence

A County Londonderry operator has been convicted at Antrim Magistrates’ Court and fined £750 plus £15 costs; in addition he was awarded 3 penalty points on to his driving licence.

The conviction arose when DVA Vehicle Examiners directed a 2 axle light goods vehicle to the Department’s weighbridge site at Toome for the purposes of an inspection and weigh check.

The following weights were recorded. The vehicle was found to be overloaded on the 2nd axle by 1,520kgs (67.5%) and 1,719kgs (49.1) on the Gross Vehicle Weight.  The vehicle was overloaded to such an extent that it was deemed to be in a dangerous condition and a prohibition notice was issued preventing further use until the vehicle weight was reduced to legal limits.