Operator loses Licence after just 18 months
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AN OPERATOR WHO obtained an 0-licence just 18 months ago has had his licence revoked and been disqualified indefinitely after a police raid uncovered a series of tachograph offences.
The eight-vehicle licence held by Manningtree-basedPaulKingsbury was revoked by Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Christopher Heaps, who also imposed the disqualification order.
Vehicle examiner Michael Salter said eight prohibitions had been imposed on Kingsbury's vehicles, one of which was 'S' marked. There were three immediate and 16 delayed items. No safety inspection records or driver defect reports could be produced when he paid a visit to the Kingsbury's premises.
Vehicle examiners gave evidence that Kingsbury's premises were the subject of a search warrant by Suffolk Police in September, where a number of tacho charts were seized.
On nine charts, either the start or finish locations, or both, were missing. On seven charts, no driver details had been entered. On 12 charts, the destination and driver's names appeared to have been inserted in different handwriting. A number of charts also suggested vehicles had been operated in excess of the number authorised by the licence.
Two charts both bore the name Timothy Singh, indicating that he seemed to be driving both vehicles at the same time.
No response had been received to a written request for the production of further tacho charts and other papers relating to one of the vehicles.
Holding that Kingsbury had lost his repute as a transport manager, the DTC said his conduct struck at the very heart of the 0-licensing system.