I got a Ticket
Just been booked by the DVSA (formally VOSA), before anyone says, Yes, I'm in the wrong, but anyone who says they have never done anything wrong, well, I would question that as we are all human, unless we are, Miss-goody-two-shoes?
Had a split red airline on my articulated lorry, for those who may not know, you cannot run without the red line as the trailer brakes will not release and if driving, the trailer brakes will come on.
I gave up my spare airline to help another driver a few days ago. I swapped the red airline with my yellow so I could travel just a few miles to the truck-stop to obtain a replacement, on the way, I got stopped for a routine roadside check, sods law, you know the rest.
Not many are aware that the yellow airline is now redundant on modern lorries as they have EBS Braking Systems which are controlled/signalled via the 7 pin EBS/ABS Lead and not via the yellow airline as they were historically.
Legally, the yellow line must be connected as it’s a backup system should the EBS ever fail, hence, I got a ticket, exemplary record now in the bin. 
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sorry to hear that and can imagine how you must be feeling, but what exactly do you mean by a 'ticket' and what is the 'punishment'?
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Fine and 3 points on licence, the above offence is classed as running with defective brakes as the yellow line was not connected even though as said, the yellow line is now actually redundant. It's the case of "what if" i.e. should the EBS fail, which I've never known, but is however, possible like anything else. Had a clean Licence since first obtaining my licence back in 1974 which was incidentally a BFG Licence. It's my own fault, the VOSA gentleman had no option even though he new I was only driving a few miles to the Truck Stop to obtain one and there was, in theory, no additional risk than otherwise would be deemed normal. I’m not happy with myself!
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Snowy, I am really sorry for you under these circumstances. I am really surprised that the VOSA agent was not able to issue a caution under these circumstances .
I guess that is the difference with a fully warranted Police Officer as apposed to these "Private" enforcement agencies. The Police have always carried a power of discretion when dealing with lesser or technical infringements. They can and do issue cautions or decide to take no action.
As it is we now have a hard working and responsible professional driver upset and annoyed and less likely to help others in future.
Bad Policy!
TF
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Snowy,
Thinking about it, why not try writing to the head of VOSA in your area setting out the full facts as you articulated in your post above. Ask him directly whether a caution could be substituted for the Ticket.
It will not hurt, and He/She can only say no! It cannot make things any worse, and who knows they may have more discretion available than the fairly new operative that you saw!
TF
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Tigerfish;
I think it might be best to let sleeping dogs lie?
I appreciate you advising me and also sticking up for me. In my opinion, you are one of the most qualified persons to help and advise me as you have served in the Police Force for 30 years or so, having made a senior rank too, but there is a little more to this event than I’ve mentioned thus far. When I was stopped, there were two lots of staff i.e. the administration checking & mechanical checking members of staff. The said vehicle mechanic was not aware (many Mechanics, Drivers and Operators are not) that the yellow airline was now redundant with regard to operating the braking system under normal circumstances, I had to do a demonstration on site to prove that the trailer brakes were fully functioning without the yellow line connected. The mechanic then had to make a few phone calls to confirm that the EBS worked totally via the 7 pin EBS/ABS electrical lead. This means that more staff were involved and Empire Building began. I am knowingly in the wrong even though, in theory, it was not a dangerous act and I drove slower & steadier and allowing more distance from the vehicle in front for said few miles I was travelling to the truck-stop.
To give a similar example of what I did, which could happen to anyone of us Caravanners;
You are travelling with your caravan over Woodhead Pass between Sheffield and Manchester, you pull into a Roadside Layby just after Sheffield for a Toilet Break (10/100), you notice that the Caravans’ Break-away cable has become unattached and it has been trailing on the road, the Carabina has practically grinded away. You know it is an offence to travel without it connected! You also know that between Sheffield & Manchester on said route that you could divert just a few miles into Glossop. What’s in Glossop? Glossop Caravans, and you know they will be open! Are you going to call out recovery or are you going to carry on (travelling a little slower & steadier) via Glossop caravans and obtain a replacement? If everyone reading this is truthful, they would do the same as I? if you do, don’t get caught!
Or better still, carry a buck-she Break-away Cable.
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The law is the law. I was fined for having a tail light out, it happened whilst driving-an argument could be put forward that on a motorway we can't stop every few yards to check all the lights are working. I'd checked them before I left 'miss goody two shoes' I was but still accepted that the law is the law
'tis life.0 -
R2B You are correct in saying that the law is the law. But there is a legal defence, proven by a stated case, that if a motorist says that they checked their lights before departing on that journey and found that they were working, then the failure de facto occurred during the journey in question. And they therefore had a legal excuse!
It would appear on the facts related in your post, that you should have availed yourself of that let out clause.
TF
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I may have done if I knew of it TF, I reckon it's like most 'get out of jail free' cards-they keep them a secret as it'd hit revenue
. Law enforcement & common sense are strange/rare bedfellows.0
