Coach operator fined for tachograph failings

Coach operator fined for tachograph failings


A COACH operator in Erris was fined €200 at last week’s sitting of Belmullet District Court for failing to keep records on the tachograph of his vehicles.
Michael Corduff of Rossport North, Ballina pleaded guilty to the offences after his business was visited by inspectors from the Road Safety Authority on January 9, 2012. The court heard he failed to produce a record sheet from his tachographs despite being directed to do so on previous visits.
Mr Corduff has 37 vehicles and his solicitor Dermot Hewson told the court that his client was ill the previous year and was unable to act on the visits by the RSA. He said he has since employed a consultant to carry out an audit and train up to 26 of his drivers and he has also employed a transport manager to ensure the matter is dealt with in the future.
Mr Hewson said the consultant was still retained for advice and training and his client had no previous convictions and was fully compliant.
Judge Conal Gibbons said he was impressed by Mr Corduff’s decision to employ a consultant to upskill his staff and fined him €200 on one of the charges, taking the rest into consideration.