Delivering with a forwarder

[treequip]

Yes that's why they buddy up and have joint sting operations. I once got pulled in a van at checkpoint. HMCE dipped tank whilst VOSA check vehicle and coppers there too to enforce.

I'm sure they have each other's numbers handy if not speed dial.

 

See, there's where the perception thing comes in, its not a sting, that would be an operation to trick people, the joint checks are there to ensure compliance with the law.

 

HMCE do there own prosecutions as do VOSA but the fact is that a tank full of white wont have any influence on the other authorities and cant be used in any form in a prosecution by other authorities

[openspaceman]

The people interested in fuel (HMCE) have no jurisdiction over the other issues similarly those with jurisdiction over the other areas have no authority where fuels are concerned.

 

Maybeso but that is a son sequitur in this context and I have read your later post.

 

The op asked about the legalities of of delivering roundwood with a tractor-forwarder. He realised it should not be done with rebated fuel, Peter suggested it would be "totally legit" if he used DERV. My response was to "wing it" on rebated diesel because it was no more or less unlawful than on DERV, the point being that other laws prevent haulage with tractors for non exempt journeys. Indeed if the yard and tractor were part of an agricultural or forestry enterprise and the wood came from the estate it could be an exempt journey.

 

You may well be right about the chances of prosecution for both offences being low but equally the chances of being checked may be low, depending on the local police, because many such journeys can be exempt depending on the starting point.

 

If we are talking about risk: I was only stopped once, for a faulty numberplate, and that was probably because I made the mistake of venturing into the Metropolitan Police area and they were unfamiliar with agricultural tractors. More recently I have been aware of £250 on the spot fines for non exempt use of red diesel in a tractor and mower.

Edited September 14, 2014 by openspaceman