False Records (Card Pulling) Charges Reduced Avoiding Case Being Sent to the Crown Court for Sentence

Laura Newton was instructed to represent a HGV Driver. Following a DVSA investigation, the driver was charged with making a false tachograph record (card pulling) and another drivers’ hours offence. False tachograph records are treated very seriously by the Court and can lead to a custodial sentence. In this case, the prosecutor DVSA had intended to ask the Magistrates’ to send the case to the Crown Court as they felt it was a case where a prison sentence was justified.

After reviewing the evidence, DVSA agreed to reduce the charges so that only 2 false record offences and 2 less serious offences were put before the Court. After a guilty plea and mitigation, the case was dealt with by the Magistrates’ Court and the sentence was limited to just a fine.