JANUARY 08 TACHOGRAPHS

For further clarification, visit VOSAs website http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repository/GV262%20Jan%202008.pdf, or contact TAMS.

JANUARY 08 VOSA NEWS - Prosecution leads to public Inquiry

Nigel Gary Hodgson, owner of Gary Hodgson Commercials Ltd of Kellythorpe Industrial Estate Driffield, has had his operator licence revoked for forgery of a tachograph seal.

Following a successful prosecution by Vosa, Mr Hodgson was called to attend a public inquiry at Leeds on 19th December 2007 where he had his licence revoked with immediate effect, on the grounds of losing his repute to hold a licence for wrongly using tools supplied in connection with the Tachograph & Speed Limiter Schemes.

Mr Hodgson was authorised as a Road Speed Limiter Sealing Centre, however the company whose speed limiters he was authorised to fit ceased trading, requiring Mr Hodgson to return all equipment including sealing pliers. During a routine inspection in March 2006, Mr Hodgson was asked about the pliers and confirmed that they had been sent back to the company as requested.

In August 2006 Mr Hodgson presented a HGV to Scarborough Testing Station for annual test. It was then that he was found to have recently used the sealing pliers he had declared as being returned, for sealing the gearbox tachograph seal.

Before the public inquiry in Leeds, Mr Hodgson had already pleaded guilty to the offence of Forgery of a Tachograph Seal on 2nd March 2007 at Scarborough Magistrates Court. He was fined £1500 and ordered to pay costs of £300 following an investigation by the VOSA Enforcement Office in Beverly.

Chris Dormand, who leads the Speed Limiter and Tachograph Scheme at VOSA, said:

“I’m disappointed that this incident has occurred, but I’m pleased the controls that VOSA has in place for monitoring the scheme have been shown to be effective.”

“The system’s security is essential to the tachograph being an effective tool for improving road safety and ensuring a level playing field for operators. Illegally adjusting such systems is showing disregard for both.”

VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is responsible for:

• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services

• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the

MOT testing scheme

• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations

• Enforcing drivers’ hours and licensing requirements

• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator

licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements

• Providing training and advice for commercial operators

• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls.

FEBRUARY 08 LEZ (LOW EMMISSION ZONE)

By now Im sure that you are aware that MOST of Greater London is subject to LEZ charges…….. Another of Mayor Ken’s master-plan taxations..

This means that any goods vehicle over 12ton GVW will need to pay a daily charge of £200 to use the roads unless it meets certain standards with regards to emissions.

Does this affect you? For further details visit the Transport For London (TfL) Website at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/default.aspx