Drivers fail road checks

Jan 20 2006 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

DRIVERS are facing charges after vehicle checks.

A total of 45 vehicles were checked yesterday at Oldbury Green Retail Park as part of Operation Bulstrode.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said Operation Bulstrode was a structured vehicle check with "a multi-agency approach".

Heavy goods vehicles, light goods vehicles and private hire cars were targeted. Present at the check were officers from VOSA, the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP), officers from Revenue and Customs and police officers from the Road Policing Unit and Professional Development Unit in Sandwell.

Of the 45 vehicles tested, two were subject to prohibitions for being overloaded and the drivers were also reported.

Two vehicles were prohibited over tachograph regulations infringements and the drivers were also reported.

Seven vehicles were subject to prohibitions with respect to roadworthiness, two of which were taken away from the site. The drivers were also reported.

One person was reported for working and claiming income support and another was reported for working and claiming incapacity benefit.

Two people were reported for working and claiming job seekers allowance.

Seven others immediately signed on for income tax selfassessment and national insurance contributions.

One vehicle was impounded for being run on rebated diesel fuel and two people were arrested.

PC Wally Hill, from the road policing unit at Warley, said: "In general the check produced excellent results and future operations are planned."