On Friday 4 January 2013 Mr G. Davidson from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire was jailed for six months at Carlisle Crown Court for tachograph fraud.

The defendant was first stopped by the VOSA on 28 June 2012. Examination of his tachograph records and contact with the depots visited by Mr Davidson revealed that the vehicle had been driven at times when the tachograph was recording him to be resting.

No explanation for the above anomalies was provided by the driver.  Inspection of the vehicle and tachograph exposed that an impulse generator had been wired into the tachograph loom to falsify readings so that the vehicle could be driven and record rest. Also the dash speedometer and speed limiter did not function. Further analysis of seized material revealed a total of 69 false tachograph records.

Mr Davidson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. 

His Honour Judge Batty said, "the regulations are there for a reason, and that is to protect you and the public. With this level of offending, there must be a deterrent as you put members of the public in danger."

Sgt Graeme Hodgson of the Road Policing Unit who oversaw the investigation said “Cumbria Constabulary and our partners at VOSA take very seriously the systematic falsification of tachograph charts. We have plenty of other targets, large and small on whom we are collating evidence. These investigations don’t happen overnight, we will continue to enforce drivers’ hours and the mechanical condition of vehicles at the roadside whilst undertaking the longer term investigations. There may be short term gains to be made from falsification but the penalties imposed on those convicted are now starting to be a real deterrent. We need to ensure that the roads are safe and that there’s a level playing field for all hauliers.”