Court Report Feb-Mar 2020

County Down Operator Fined for Multiple Offences

A County Down driver has been convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £2,250 plus a £15 offender levy.

The conviction arose when DVA Enforcement Officers inspected a 3 axle DAF artic in combination with a 3 axle LMA trailer in the Craigavon area.

During the examination it was noted the vehicle was not specified on a valid Goods Operator Licence, there was no Goods Vehicle Test Certificate in place, and the vehicle tachograph calibration had expired a number of months previously.

The vehicle was also encountered on a number of occasions over the following months and various offences were detected including no operator’s licence, recording equipment (digital) not inspected and calibrated every 2 years and failure to download relevant data from a Tachograph Vehicle Unit. The operator was cautioned and interviewed.

 

Tachograph Unit Not Calibrated

A County Tyrone operator was convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £650 plus a £15 offender levy after DVA Enforcement Officers stopped a 3 axle Renault articulated lorry in combination with a 3 axle trailer.

During an examination of the driver’s digital smartcard it was noted it had never been downloaded in accordance with EU regulations and the tachograph data had not been downloaded in 269 days.

The vehicle was also overloaded on the gross train weight by 1,080kgs, in addition the vehicle tachograph unit was not calibrated. The operator was interviewed and cautioned.

 

Operator Fined £600 on Series of Charges

A Belfast operator has been convicted and fined a total of £600 plus a £15 offender levy at Laganside Magistrates’ Court.

The conviction arose when DVA Enforcement Officers stopped a 2 axle large goods vehicle in the Belfast area and directed the driver to take the vehicle to the Department’s weighbridge at Garmoyle Street, Belfast.

A number of offences were detected including contravention of conditions of Operators Licence, recording equipment (digital) not calibrated and failure to download relevant data from a Tachograph. The operator was cautioned and interviewed.

 

Tanker Found to Be Overloaded

A County Down driver was convicted at Newry Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £600 plus a £15 offender levy after DVA Enforcement Officers examined a 3 axle Scania articulated lorry in combination with a 3 axle tanker at the Department’s weighbridge at Loughbrickland.

The vehicle was weighed and found to be overloaded on the 2 axle by 140kgs and also overloaded on the gross train weight by 2,190kgs.

In addition it was noted that the vehicle had been driven on numerous occasions with no driver’s card being utilised. The operator was cautioned and interviewed.

 

Fined for Overweight Tipper

A County Fermanagh operator was convicted at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court and fined a total of £500 plus a £15 offender levy. The conviction arose when DVA Enforcement Officers stopped a MAN tipper lorry in the Enniskillen area.

As a weight docket could not be provided the driver was directed to take the vehicle to a nearby weighbridge and following a weight check the vehicle found to be overloaded by 6,820kgs (21.3%) on the maximum authorised weight. The operator was interviewed and cautioned.