admin, Author at Smith Bowyer Clarke | Page 2 of 5

Expert team of Barristers and Solicitors with years of experience in providing advice and representation in Road Transport Law.

Author Archives: admin

Summoned to the Traffic Commissioner for Not Maintaining Your PSVs? 5 Awkward Questions You Can Expect to be Asked:

Maintenance failings are perhaps the single most common reason bus and coach operators are called in to Public Inquiry with the Traffic Commissioner. Often it starts with a roadside stop by the DVSA (VOSA) at which one of your vehicles is issued with a roadworthiness prohibition (a PG9). This is […]

Posted in PSVs and Minibuses, Public Inquiries | Comments Off on Summoned to the Traffic Commissioner for Not Maintaining Your PSVs? 5 Awkward Questions You Can Expect to be Asked:

Restricted PSV Licences and Falling Foul of the “Main Occupation” Requirement

The misuse of a Restricted PSV operator’s licence is one of the more common reasons a PSV operator can be called to a Public Inquiry with the Traffic Commissioner. The “main occupation” in particular is very strictly applied. Falling foul of it is a quick way to have your operator’s […]

Posted in PSVs and Minibuses | Comments Off on Restricted PSV Licences and Falling Foul of the “Main Occupation” Requirement

O Licence Holders: Can You Answer “Yes” to these 10 Questions? If Not, You Need to Act – Fast

1) Have you kept the Traffic Commissioner up to date with any changes to your maintenance arrangements or operating centre. 2) Do your vehicles undergo roller brake testing on at least a quarterly basis? 3) Do you currently have financial standing to operate your vehicles? 4) Are your drivers carrying […]

Posted in How to Stay Compliant with the Traffic Commissioner | Comments Off on O Licence Holders: Can You Answer “Yes” to these 10 Questions? If Not, You Need to Act – Fast

Operator Licences Held by Partnerships – A Risky Strategy

It can be very risky operating HGVs as a business partnership. You must know exactly what the rules are or you place your licence and your business at risk, and may even find yourself with a criminal record.   Consider the Following Nightmare Scenario: You are in a business partnership […]

Posted in How to Stay Compliant with the Traffic Commissioner, Public Inquiries | Comments Off on Operator Licences Held by Partnerships – A Risky Strategy

A Disturbing Trend: The EU Truck Drivers Being Refused Entry to the UK

See also:  Clandestine Entrants & Challenging Civil Penalties A disturbing and potentially unlawful practice appears to have arisen at some British ports in recent years. In some rare cases, truck drivers are being permanently refused entry to the UK by the UK Border Force, even though they are EU nationals […]

Posted in Civil Penalties for Clandestine Entrants / Border Force | Comments Off on A Disturbing Trend: The EU Truck Drivers Being Refused Entry to the UK

Challenging London Low Emission Zone Penalties

Every year many hundreds of European hauliers receive demands for payment for breaching the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). These Penalty Charge Notices can often cover periods of many months and run into thousands of Euros. Even operators whose vehicles are all Euro 6 compliant can still be heavily fined […]

Posted in Challenging Penalties, Other Transport Matters | Comments Off on Challenging London Low Emission Zone Penalties

HGV Drivers, Mobile Phones & the Traffic Commissioner – 5 Things You Need to Know

Using a phone behind the wheel is a serious offence, and more so for truck drivers. Below are 5 things all HGV drivers, operators and Transport Managers need to know:   1) Committing this Offence is Easier than You Might Think As a professional driver you will almost certainly know […]

Posted in Criminal Defence, Driver Conduct Hearings, How to Stay Compliant with the Traffic Commissioner | Comments Off on HGV Drivers, Mobile Phones & the Traffic Commissioner – 5 Things You Need to Know

Facing Court for Overloading Your Truck? 5 Things You Need to Know

Facing prosecution for driving or operating an overloaded goods vehicle? Received papers from the Magistrates Court? Unsure what you should do next? Here are 5 things you need to know:   1) Both the Driver and Operator can be Charged It is not just the driver of an overloaded vehicle […]

Posted in Criminal Defence | Tagged , | Comments Off on Facing Court for Overloading Your Truck? 5 Things You Need to Know

Smoking in Trucks: What the Law Says

  HGV operators face fixed penalties for failing to stamp down on smoking. The law on smoking in commercial vehicles is very detailed, yet surprisingly poorly understood. We take a quick look at 3 of the main smoking-related criminal offences that all operators and drivers must be aware of:   […]

Posted in Other Transport Matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Smoking in Trucks: What the Law Says

How Safe is the Food in your Fridge?

  Guest Article:  By Rob Hardy, Operations Director and BREXIT Consultant at Oakland Invicta Ltd https://www.contaminatedload.com/, 44 (0)7487 256 543       The Calais migrant situation started 20 years ago. It reached its peak in 2016 when there were around 10,000 migrants at the infamous Calais Jungle.  The shanty town has gone but the risk […]

Posted in Civil Penalties for Clandestine Entrants / Border Force | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on How Safe is the Food in your Fridge?

Ask a Question

Let us know how we can help. Just provide a brief outline of your query.







    Free Consultation Motoring Law