Tacho case goes to Crown
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by Michael
Jewell
▪ Penrith magis trates have decided that charges alleging the falsification of tachograph records are so serious that they should be dealt with at Carlisle Crown Court. The charges were brought against a loiTy driver involved in a fatal accident on the M6 Motorway George Davidson, of Fraserburgh, is accused of driving without due care and attention and of four offences of making false tachograph records.
Prosecuting, David Dunk said that in February a large mobile crane had been travelling south on the M6 at Plumpton when it was hit from behind by Davidson's artic. The crane ran off the carriageway and down a bank. Dunk said that the driver had been thrown from the crane and crushed by the jib, receiving fatal injuries.
Every tachograph chart found in the cab of Davidson's vehicle by police was found to be false, and when an officer looked in the cab he found a wire, said Dunk.
Asked what the wire was for. Davidson had replied: "What do you think?," said Dunk. When the officer said he thought it was for interfering with the operation of the tachograph. Davidson had agreed.
Adjourning the proceedings until November for committal proceedings to take place, the magistrates said that they felt that their sentencing powers were insufficient.