French still fine bellys
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by Miles Brignall • British drivers in France are facing on-the-spot fines of £40 to £1,000 for carrying belly tanks—even though there is often no fuel in them.
Reports of indiscriminate fines for carrying belly tanks are widespread. Stuart Butterworth, operations director, of North Wales-based TDS Morgan Freight says his firm became so concerned by fines, particularly in the Toulouse area, that it cut holes in the tanks to make it clear that they were not being used.
Even so, one of the firms' drivers was stopped in Cherbourg recently with the holed belly tanks and served with a £1,100 fine. Only when the company brought in the British Consulate, and after a four-hour wait, did the policeman relent and release the truck. Another Kent-based haulier says his firm has received so many fines that it is considering avoiding France. The owner says it is yet another way in which British hauliers face unfair competition in Europe. • Roger Smith of the Department of Transport says that the Government is putting pressure on the French to define the law, and see that it is consistently enforced.
But accor ding to Smith, there is to be a European Council meeting before the end of the year which will discuss belly tanks, and the matter may be resolved.