17-09-08 Two-year VOSA investigation leads to convictions
Six men working for Jobe Transport Ltd, Norwich were found guilty of a total of 84 driving offences at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 12 September 2008. The convictions came after a two-year investigation into alleged false drivers’ hours records by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
The company was involved in container movements to and from the Port of Felixstowe. VOSA’s Eastern Investigation Team inspected drivers’ hour’s records for the period end of November 2005 to end of May 2006 for all vehicles specified on the licence and for 10 drivers.
Records were obtained from the Port of Felixstowe, which showed the vehicles collecting and dropping off containers at certain times of the day, but the drivers records showed either no movements at the said times, or the driver claiming to be elsewhere, when in fact they were at the Port.
All 6 drivers pleaded guilty to a total of 84 false record offences. Three drivers were sentenced to 250 hours community service and one was sentenced to 200 hours community service. Two drivers were electronically tagged under curfew between 7pm-7am, one for 12 weeks and the other for 14 weeks.
VOSA Chief Operating Officer Alex Fiddes said:
“I am delighted with the outcome of this investigation. It sends out a clear message that, in order to make roads safer for the public and to ensure a level playing field for legitimate operators, VOSA will find and prosecute those who abuse driver’s hours’ rules.”
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VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator
licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls.
For media enquiries about VOSA, please contact: Zita Easton on 0117 954 2561 or Luke Bigwood on 0117 954 3208. You can also e-mail press@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 19/09/2008