HC Deb 17 February 1998 vol 306 cc596-7W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the penalties for tachograph interference; and how many incidences of such interference have been recorded in each of the last three years; [28955]

(2) what Government publicity has been issued on the subject of tachograph interference; and if he will make a statement. [28956]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The maximum penalties for producing a false tachograph chart by tampering with the device are, on summary conviction, a fine of £5,000 and, on conviction on indictment, two years imprisonment. Convictions are also taken into account by the local Traffic Commissioner when reviewing an operator's compliance with the conditions of his licence. Offenders can be called to a public inquiry, and their licences can be curtailed, suspended or revoked.

The Vehicle Inspectorate's Annual Effectiveness Report1 includes statistics on tachograph and other drivers' hours offences that are reported for prosecution by the Inspectorate. For 1995–96, it is not possible to differentiate tachograph interference offences from other tachograph and drivers' hours offences. The best available figures for the subsequent two years for offences concerning interference with the tachograph and its records are:

  • 1996–97: 681 (England and Wales only)
  • 1997–98 (April to December): 775 (England, Wales and Scotland only).

The figures do not include offences detected by the police.

It would not be appropriate to publish information abut the nature of tachograph interference because of the risk that methods might be imitated. 1Vehicle Inspectorate: Traffic Safety and a cleaner environment: A Report on the Vehicle Inspectorate's Effectiveness as an Enforcement Agency 1996/97.