A multi-agency vehicle operation concentrating on overladen vehicles and those carrying livestock proved to be disappointing.
Officers from the Roads Policing Unit, VOSA, Denbighshire County Council Trading Standards and Enforcement Team (including Livestock Enforcement), DCC Environmental Services and the RSPCA, conduced the operation at the A525 weighbridge facility between Rhuddlan and St Asaph on Thursday, October 31.
Of the vehicles checked, three were found to be overloaded –one by 22%, one at 12% and another at 10%. All three overloaded vehicles were immediately prohibited from driving on a road due to the high level of excess weight. Further enforcement action will be considered against the driver and operator of these vehicles.
Nine animal livestock vehicles were checked for compliance with animal movement requirements with the following results:
1 incident of cattle being transported without cattle passports.
2 incidents of sheep being transported without a sheep movement licence.
1 incident where a vehicle was not using a partition gate in trailer full of cattle.
1 incident of a horse passport being carried containing incorrect owner details.
Appropriate action was taken against the drivers of these vehicles.
During the course of the operation two fixed penalty notices were issued for defective lights on trailers, a Vehicle Defect Rectification was issued to the driver of a car for having no brake lights and a further fixed penalty notice was issued to a driver for using a mobile phone while driving.
Roads Policing Sergeant Tony Gatley said:
“The results of the day were disappointing in that action had to be taken against a number of motorists for various contraventions of the law. We are determined to ensure that the roads of North Wales are safe for all road users and as such we will continue to run similar operations in the area in the very near future.”
Councillor David Smith, Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said:
“Taking a tough stance like this really sends out a clear message that driving vehicles that are defective or not having the correct licences will not be tolerated. These spot checks will continue and vehicle owners and drivers must make sure they follow the law at all times.
“This is also a great example of how the various agencies are all working together with a common aim – of protecting the public of North Wales”.
