The new North West traffic commissioner Simon Evans revoked the operator’s licence held by S B Trans and disqualified Sebastian Blizniak from professional driving for 12 months, alongside the two-year operating licence disqualification.
DVSA examiners reported Blizniak for a single instance of using the magnet on 15 November 2016. Analysis of the driver card showed a rest period of almost 11 hours overnight, but data obtained from the vehicle engine management system showed the vehicle to be moving.
At a public inquiry, Blizniak admitted that he used the magnet from Corley Services, near Birmingham, and removed it near Middlewich in Cheshire. He had decided to falsify the record to save time for the next day.
Blizniak was subsequently convicted for knowingly making a false record, taking insufficient rest within a 24-hour period and exceeding the 10-hour daily driving limit. He was fined £1,000.
“The use of the magnet to conceal conduct undermines the rules designed to prevent driver fatigue, promote road safety and ensure fair competition in the industry,” said the traffic commissioner, describing Blizniak’s conduct as “patently unacceptable”.
He said the industry would be “scandalised” if an operator could retain repute in such a case.