Lorry driver fined and imprisoned for drivers' hours breaches
2 November 2011
A Hungarian lorry driver has been fined £2,500 and sentenced to four days in prison for producing false documents and exceeding drivers’ hours regulations.
When stopped by officers from the Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) on the A55 at Bangor, north Wales, on 13 October, Roland Banfalvi, 38, produced documents purporting to show that he had taken rest periods until 4 October. However, it was later heard in court that he had driven throughout Europe without taking the required rest periods since 15 September.
The court also heard that from 6 October, Banfalvi had driven 4,277km, and had destroyed tachograph charts to disguise an additional 694km that he had driven.
The driver’s 38-tonne truck, which had defective tyres, has now been forfeited.
Sergeant Ifan Jones from the CVU says: “This is one of the most serious breaches of drivers’ hours that the Commercial Vehicle Unit has uncovered.
“It is disappointing that hauliers continue to allow tired drivers with defective vehicles to travel on our roads. We will continue to target offending hauliers to ensure safer roads in north Wales.”
Hayley Pink - Road Transport