Road haulage lawyers and O licence application? At Smith Bowyer Clarke, our record of recovering seized trucks and loads is extremely high. Click here to see some recent examples. We can even arrange for collection, transhipment and onward transportation. Vehicles Seized for Operating Without an O Licence: The police and the DVSA have the power to seize your vehicle if they think you are operating without a licence. Only the legal owner of the vehicle can apply to to the authorities for the return of the truck. The owner of the seized vehicle will usually be expected to appear before the Traffic Commissioner at a hearing to explain, with evidence, why the vehicle should be returned to them. The law provides only four grounds for the return of the truck, three of which are highly technical. Often the result turns on the outcome of detailed legal argument.
Every year, many thousands of illegal migrants break into and hide inside vehicles entering the UK. In most of these cases you, as the haulier operating the vehicle, will have no idea that the migrants are on board. Despite this, if one your vehicles is stopped by the UK Border Force with migrants on board, you can expect to receive a heavy fine (Civil Penalty) unless you can demonstrate that you had proper systems in place to prevent the migrants accessing the vehicle and that the system was working effectively at the time your vehicle was stopped. Once illegal migrants have contaminated one of your loads, in many cases that load will be condemned in its entirety. This is expensive, damaging to your reputation, and can jeopardise future work. At Smith Bowyer Clarke, we have links with a specialist cargo restoration service with average load recovery rates of 85-90%. Contact us to find out more.
Welcome to Smith Bowyer Clarke. We provide, simple, straightforward, and practical legal solutions to all your transport problems. If your company or your driver faces police investigation or have received a Single Justice Procedure Notice or Court summons, call our team today. Offences committed in cars and vans can adversely affect your operator’s licence and should not be lightly brushed aside. Read extra details on dvsa investigations.
The DVSA will probably send you a form PG13 which will detail the faults that they have found and will invite you to address them in writing before they consider reporting you to the Traffic Commissioner. Use this opportunity, it may not prevent you being called in for Public Inquiry but it will help demonstrate that you wish to be compliant and have taken or are going to take the necessary steps to do so. Your transport lawyer can assist you in preparing your responses, and can liaise with the DVSA on your behalf to try to put to rest any concerns they have. In many cases, a seemingly serious compliance failing can have a perfectly innocent explanation. Smith Bowyer Clarke have long experience in representing Operators, transport Managers and drivers in front of the Traffic Commissioner. Much of what we do involves helping to turn around Operators who are failing in their compliance. We have access to first rate consultants in a number of areas who can be trusted to give up to the minute advice. If you are worried why not give us a call.
Why Smith Bowyer Clarke? Tachograph offences are a highly technical area of law. They are treated very seriously by both the criminal courts and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner. Smith Bowyer Clarke is a specialist transport law firm. All our solicitors and barristers are experts in all aspects of tachograph prosecutions and infringements. We have access to some of the best tachograph experts in the country to assist your case. We can also arrange for an independent audit of your tachograph analysis systems and advise on what you should be doing to stay lawful. We offer fixed fees and free initial consultations. Call or email us today for more information. Find even more details at Road Haulage Lawyers.