Northern Ireland operator fined for drivers' hours offences

A haulier based in County Tyrone has been fined for tachograph and drivers' hours related offences.

In a Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) prosecution, Londonderry Magistrates’ Court was told how in May 2009, DVA staff were conducting a vehicle checkpoint in Newbuildings, County Londonderry.

They signalled a truck operated by Sean McGrath of Sion Mills, Strabane, to stop.

However, the vehicle drove on and instead pulled up a short distance later. A DVA officer approached the vehicle and McGrath was then directed to the DVA test centre in Newbuildings.

The officer found that the tachograph unit had been recording rest during a period when the vehicle had been seen driving on the road.

Further analysis of the digital tachograph records revealed a series of infringements relating to rest periods.
McGrath was fined a total of £1,000 for five tachograph and drivers' hours related offences.

He was ordered to pay £200 for failure to record driving activity and a total of £800 for four counts of failing to take the required daily rest period.

He was also ordered to pay £76 costs.