Any idea fine for HGV driver crossing weak bridge ?

[traceyinrosso]

My dad who is an HGV driver is about to retire in 6 weeks time and has been caught crossing a weak bridge he shouldn't have gone over. He has admitted he did it but was told by a local company (with HGV drivers using route) to use the bridge and wasn't advised of an alternative route. He was advised at his destination that there was another route so obviously he went back the other way as he was aware he shouldn't have crossed the bridge. He knows he is in the wrong but did not see an alternative route marked or was unable to turn his huge HGV round on the narrow lane. He has a clean licence and is really upset this will be spoilt with just 6 weeks left to work. It is the county council (N Yorks) who are dealing with it not police and they have given him no indication of the likely fine and he is worrying about it. It is going to magistrates court and he is pleading guilty but wonders if there was an alternative route marked as he did not see one marked (as he would obviously have gone that way if he had seen it). As the area is a long way from home its too far to nip there and check but can anyone help with the amount he is likely to be fined and if there is any discretion with the circumstances and the fact he has had a clean licence all his driving life. Any advice gratefully received.

[DizzyCow63]

No advice about the fine but might be worth posting in MN local for the area, to see if anyone knows whether the alternate route is sign-posted, could perhaps help your Dad's case if it is not.

[traceyinrosso]

Good idea but how do I do that ?

[DizzyCow63]

Go into topics, scroll down til you see MN local, then select the one for the relevant area (can't do a link as am on my phone).

[traceyinrosso]

ok thanks will try it

[thisisyesterday]

i think he would be better off just paying the fine tbh. or getting the company he works for to pay it.

my dad is an HGV driver and he has to plan his routes himself. so if it's somewhere he isn't sure if he has to sit down with a map and plan it.

you can't always blame someone else.
he KNEW he shouldn't have gone over it but he did anyway. why couldn't he have found a different route himself? why is it someone elses fault?

I can appreciate that it's worrying for him, esp not knowing how much the fine will be. But it'll be a hell of a lot easier to just speak to the council, pay the fine and get it over and done with and then work the rest of the time til his retirement.

[Lizcat]

DH runs several HGVs. I am afraid that legally the responsability of the driver to take a correct route, make sure the vehicle is roadworthy and that they are not overload. Usually these kind of fines are a couple of hundred. If one of DH's drivers gets a fine for lorry being unevenly loaded or DH himself giving misinformation he pays their fine. If it is something that the driver should have avoided they have to pay the fine.
There is no discretion the fines are automatic and if unpaid go to debt collectors. He will still have a clean licence as the police are not involved it is a civil offence and does not get points.