Tachographs...
Discussion
Watching 'Motorway Traffic Police Interceptors Caught On Camera In Action Wars' last week there was a guy pulled over driving a Land Rover towing a Range Rover on a trailer. They considered it interesting because the man had no license or insurance but I was more concerned about the cop asking to see the man's tachograph because the GTW was more than 3.5tonnes.
I though it was because it could be considered to be a commercial vehicle, as was backed up by some of the conversation, however he went on to say that 'any vehicle over 3.5tonnes now must have a tachograph fitted'. I've had a look around the DVLA website and couldn't find anything mentioning it, was this just a slip of the tongue and he got it slightly wrong?
I though it was because it could be considered to be a commercial vehicle, as was backed up by some of the conversation, however he went on to say that 'any vehicle over 3.5tonnes now must have a tachograph fitted'. I've had a look around the DVLA website and couldn't find anything mentioning it, was this just a slip of the tongue and he got it slightly wrong?
Its the train weight that qualifies it here. If the 4x4 is used for commercial purposes towing and weighs over 3.5t itll need a tacho and all working time directives and tachograph rules must be adhered to. The 4x4 on its own doesnt need one and the same vehicle used for non-commercial purposes wont require a tachograph either.
Concerned as we regularly tow a car with tyres, spares, tools etc to events, ending up with a train weight of well of 3.5tonnes. However not for commercial purposes...yep same as my 7.5 tonner, as its private non commercial neither need a tacho. if there is any commercial use they do.
A mate used to have a discovery and used to pick up landrovers for breaking so he needed a tacho fitted. I used to tow a 20ft covered trailer with a race car in it behind my disco but as it wasnt commercial I didnt need a tacho.
The trouble is Vosa right the rules, the police enforce them and the courts decide who is guilty.. and trying to find someone who actually knows the rules at the side of the road is very slim.. most plod dont seem very well briefed.. The vosa guy i spoke to recently about my truck held a very dim view of their knowledge. probably a symptom of the very few dedicated traffic guys these days
A mate used to have a discovery and used to pick up landrovers for breaking so he needed a tacho fitted. I used to tow a 20ft covered trailer with a race car in it behind my disco but as it wasnt commercial I didnt need a tacho.
The trouble is Vosa right the rules, the police enforce them and the courts decide who is guilty.. and trying to find someone who actually knows the rules at the side of the road is very slim.. most plod dont seem very well briefed.. The vosa guy i spoke to recently about my truck held a very dim view of their knowledge. probably a symptom of the very few dedicated traffic guys these days
Graham said:
yep same as my 7.5 tonner, as its private non commercial neither need a tacho. if there is any commercial use they do.
A mate used to have a discovery and used to pick up landrovers for breaking so he needed a tacho fitted. I used to tow a 20ft covered trailer with a race car in it behind my disco but as it wasnt commercial I didnt need a tacho.
The trouble is Vosa right the rules, the police enforce them and the courts decide who is guilty.. and trying to find someone who actually knows the rules at the side of the road is very slim.. most plod dont seem very well briefed.. The vosa guy i spoke to recently about my truck held a very dim view of their knowledge. probably a symptom of the very few dedicated traffic guys these days
Only a few officers will stop/deal with vehicles in relation to Tachographs, those that do have to go on courses to do so. A mate used to have a discovery and used to pick up landrovers for breaking so he needed a tacho fitted. I used to tow a 20ft covered trailer with a race car in it behind my disco but as it wasnt commercial I didnt need a tacho.
The trouble is Vosa right the rules, the police enforce them and the courts decide who is guilty.. and trying to find someone who actually knows the rules at the side of the road is very slim.. most plod dont seem very well briefed.. The vosa guy i spoke to recently about my truck held a very dim view of their knowledge. probably a symptom of the very few dedicated traffic guys these days
In the same way I've a dim view of their knowledge of criminal law !
Only if its for commercial purposes though, not if it private use. Remember too that its the trailer plate thatll decide this, not the weight carried (I believe). What I mean by this is that if the max weight of the vehicle and the laden trailer exceeds 3,500KGs, then commercial use will require a tacho, even if youre only carrying a small load and you weigh under the limit.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff