Dyfed Powys Police in Pembrokeshire have been targeting law-breaking lorry drivers issuing over two thousand pounds in fines, nineteen graduated fixed penalties and imposing an immediate driving prohibition on five drivers.
During Operation Emerald, which took place on Wednesday January 26 and Thursday January 27, on the A477 road at Sageston, near Tenby, 42 vehicles were stopped and £2,080 in on the spot fines were issued to drivers for a range of offences including excess speed and tachograph and driver’s hours breaches.
Acting Inspector Gary Jones, of Dyfed Powys Police’s Road Policing Unit, said: “We’ve been targeting UK and foreign goods vehicles operating out of Pembroke Port. This has been a successful operation which resulted in a significant number of vehicles being stopped and several drivers being reported for a variety of motoring offences.
“In the past it has proved difficult to ensure the attendance at court of non-UK offenders. The Graduated Fixed Penalty scheme enables officers to issue on the spot fines to offenders who cannot provide a suitable UK address for the service of summons. The fines range from £30 to £200, dependent on the seriousness of the alleged offence. If the offender is unable to pay the fine, the vehicle may be prohibited or immobilised.”
He added: “With two busy Ports in the County attracting high volumes of commercial vehicles, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of road users in our county. This operation sends out an important message to all lorry drivers, especially foreign lorry drivers who in some cases think the law in the UK does not apply to them, it does and if you break the law you will be punished with points on your license and large on the spot fines.”
