Taxi Driver Online

Malton Today

February 27, 2008

Campaign bans five vehicles

FIVE vehicles were immediately banned from the road when local road policing officers joined forces with other partners in Malton last Friday evening.

Called Operation Begonia its aim was to target anti-social and irresponsible driving in Malton and it was run as part of the North Yorkshire Police's hard-hitting road safety campaign "Operation Helical."

The operation combined the efforts of the Vehicle Operators and Standards Agency (VOSA), Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Ryedale Taxi Inspectorate.

While the police officers concentrated on driving standards and law enforcement, vehicle roadworthiness came under the scrutiny of the VOSA operatives.

The strict guidelines applicable to private hire vehicles and Hackney carriages were checked by the Ryedale Taxi Inspectorate and officials from HM Customs and Excise's road fuel testing unit tested vehicles for the illegal use of rebated red diesel.

The results were:

l 32 vehicles were inspected and tested

l 5 vehicles were issued with immediate prohibitions

l 4 vehicles were issued with delayed prohibitions, including a taxi with defective brakes. The other offences were illegal window tinting, a vehicle with wheel studs missing and one with defective suspension

l 4 drivers were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) for not wearing a seat belt

l 1 driver received a FPN for driving using a hand-held mobile phone

l 1 arrest for drinking and driving

l 7 FPNs issued for taxi rank parking offences

Malton-based Sgt Neil Campbell, of the Eastern Area Road Policing Group, said: "Working alongside our partner agencies for this operation, we have been able to make a real impact on and raise awareness about road safety.

"Those drivers who persist in using their vehicles in an anti-social manner or in a dangerous condition, should be aware that we will deal robustly with any offences revealed."

And he warned: "This operation will not be a one off. They will be mounted on a regular basis around the Eastern Area to help our quest to improve safety and reduce casualties on our roads."

l Almost 350 offenders were caught by North Yorkshire police for seat-belt offences in the first two weeks of February.

And the force has warned that by Friday when its month-long focus on seatbelt safety ends, it is sure to have caught many more.

Police issued 290 fixed penalty notices, two court summonses and 57 warnings for seat-belt offences across the county between February 1 and 14 between this year.

Roadside checks have been stepped up in a move to make county's roads safer by bringing more offenders to justice.
__________________________