Fines for HGVs caught ignoring weight restrictions and overloaded vehicles in West Berkshire
A driver carrying too many sausages and a motorist transporting a car using his Mercedes have both been slapped with hefty fines after their overloaded vehicles were stopped by police.
Five HGVs have also received fines after being caught ignoring weight restrictions on roads across West Berkshire in the latest round of motoring cases to come before the courts.
In the first case an HGV driver was caught in Cold Ash Hill, Thatcham, on February 13 driving his 18-tonne vehicle through a 7.5-tonne road restriction.
Having pleaded guilty this month at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court the motorist was fined £166, ordered to pay £180 in costs and a victim’s surcharge of £66.
A 26-tonne HGV was caught on February 19 in Church Road, Aldermaston – which has a 7.5-tonne weight limit.
The driver, who also pleaded guilty this month, was fined £146, ordered to pay a £180 contribution towards prosecution costs and a £58 victim’s surcharge.
A Road Traffic Enforcement Officer saw an 18-tonne HGV travel through the 7.5-tonne restrictions on Thornford Road and Crookham Hill in Thatcham on February 27.
East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court this month ordered the driver to pay a £220 fine, a £180 contribution towards costs and a victim’s surcharge of £88.
In Ermin Street, Stockcross – which also has a 7.5-tonne limit – a 24.6-tonne HGV was caught in breach of the restrictions earlier this year.
The incident on February 27 saw the driver fined £440 earlier this month, ordered to pay a £180 contribution towards prosecution costs and a £176 victim’s surcharge.
An 18-tonne HGV was also caught by enforcement officers from the Public Protection Partnership in breach of weight restrictions on March 11, costing the driver a £250 fine, £180 in prosecution costs and a £100 victim’s surcharge.
Police and Trading Standards officials carrying out enforcement activities on the M4 between junction 14 and Membury services also caught two drivers with over-laden vehicles.
A refrigerated vehicle carrying sausages was stopped during the operation on March 13 weighing 4760kg and breaching its permitted 3,500kg limit.
Because of the severity of the overload the driver was given an on-the-spot Prohibition Notice meaning the vehicle couldn’t be moved until the load had been reduced while at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on September 15 the driver was fined £325, ordered to pay a £180 contribution towards prosecution costs and a victim’s surcharge of £130.
The company that also pleased guilty was fined a further £650, ordered to pay £180 in costs and a £260 victim’s surcharge.
In the same operation police found a Mercedes transporting a car that was also in breach of its weight limit.
The vehicle manufacturer’s plate indicated the maximum permitted gross weight for the vehicle – the court heard – was 3,500kg and the rear axle 2250kg but the actual weight was found to be 3,880kg and 50kg over the rear axle limit.
After pleading guilty, the driver was fined £325, ordered to pay £180 in costs and a £130 victim’s surcharge.
