§ Mr. FranksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has plans to review the adequacy of the current level of penalties to deter heavy goods vehicle operators from overloading, in relation to the profitable nature of the offence.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe level of fines imposed by the magistrates courts for overloading offences usually falls far short of the maximum provided by statute.
Seriously overloaded vehicles are prohibited from proceeding until they have been unloaded. This provides a deterrent.
In the case of habitual offenders the traffic commissioners can revoke or curtail an operator's licence. On 150 occasions last year overloading was one of the grounds for such action.
During 1988–89 the Department's traffic examiners plan to weigh nearly 100,000 goods vehicles, an increase of 35 per cent. compared with 1987–88.