Plant hire company fined for overloaded vehicle

A Northern Ireland-based plant hire firm and one of its drivers have been convicted after enforcement officers discovered it was operating a vehicle that was overloaded by 46.6%.

FAL Plant & Tool Hire, of Killadeas Road, Rossfad, Ballinamallard, was fined £500 at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court on 9 September.

Driver Richard Lee of Tully, Irvinestown, Enniskillen, was ordered to pay £200 and was given three penalty points.

On 4 March, officers from the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) stopped the plant hire firm's vehicle on the A32 in Enniskillen.

When weighed, it was found to be 6.8% overloaded on the first axle and 35.3% on the second axle. The GVW was overloaded by 46.6%, which the DVA said rendered the vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Both the operator and the driver must also pay a £15 offender levy and £15 court costs.