Traffic Commissioner orders license suspension for Martins of York15 November 2012

Skip hire firm Martins of York is facing a 48-hour suspension of its operator's licence, after its conviction for one of the seven deadly sins.

North East of England Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney (pictured) made the order at public inquiry after hearing that the firm had operated a vehicle without a valid MOT and received an unsatisfactory maintenance assessment from VOSA.

The MSI (most serious infringement), which could have led to a loss of repute for the licence holder, was notified to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner following the company's conviction at Beverley and the Wolds Magistrates' Court.

However, the operator failed to disclose the conviction itself, prompting a maintenance investigation by VOSA, at which three vehicles were prohibited.

Vehicles had missed routine safety inspections on regular occasions, the Traffic Commissioner heard, on occasion being extended to 14 weeks, while defect reports completed by drivers did not record repair work carried out. VOSA's examiner also noted other issues with paperwork.

The Traffic Commissioner also reviewed the circumstances of the conviction, which is classified as one of the seven most serious infringements introduced under EU regulations in December last year.

One of the operator's trucks was stopped in November 2011 – and its MoT had expired more than six months earlier.

Rooney suspended the company's licence from 23:59 on 07 December to 23:59 on 09 December 2012. He also made an order to prevent the firm's vehicles being used by any other business during this period.

The firm's directors also made a number of commitments to the Traffic Commissioner, including to additional training for drivers and its transport manager and an external audit of maintenance and driver records.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Department for Transport

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