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[Article] Judges attacked for being too lenient with 'rogue' hauliers

12-08-2004 12:17am

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Victor

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Judges attacked for being too lenient with 'rogue' hauliers
From:The Irish Independent
Wednesday, 11th August, 2004

A GOVERNMENT minister yesterday lashed out at judges for being too lenient with rogue truck companies who increasingly endanger road safety.

Junior Transport Minister Dr Jim McDaid said judges did not appreciate the seriousness of these activities.

Speaking to the Irish Independent Dr McDaid said new legislation to crack down on illegal and unlicensed hauliers, including new on-the-spot fines of €200 for a range of trucker offences, such as driving too many hours, should go some way toward tackling the problem

The minister said he was "critical of judges" who frequently reduced or mitigated fines against rogue truckers brought to court after being caught at checkpoints for a range of offences. He said judges clearly had failed to appreciate that these operators, whose numbers ran into thousands, were costing the taxpayer up to €20m a year, undercutting legitimate hauliers. New legislation being unveiled today will include on-the-spot fines for illegal operators and for the first time ever, anyone who employs them.

Dr McDaid said the haulage sector was threatened by the activities of rogue operators who attempted to gain a cost advantage over law-abiding operators by wilfully ignoring the law. More than 100 multi-agency checkpoints have been scheduled in 2004 compared to just 44 in 2002.

The new legislation includes on-the-spot fines of €190/€200 for offences relating to drivers' hours rules, licensing regulations and the employment of illegal haulage operators. Asked why the on-the-spot fines were so low, Dr McDaid said it was expected that increased enforcement would see operators being caught more often.

The minister urged anyone with information about the activities of unlicensed haulage operators to contact the Department confidential telephone line on 1800-202735. The new fixed penalty fines must be paid within 21 days.

It's hoped this system will significantly reduce the time spent by enforcement officers on court proceedings and allow more resources to be directed at detecting infringements of road transport legislation.

Treacy Hogan

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