08 March 2010
6 vehicles were impounded at a St Martin road check, 4 due to fuel or oil leaks.
Officers from Driver and Vehicle Standards (DVS), the States of Jersey Police roads policing unit, Customs and Immigration and the Honorary Police of St Martin conducted a road check near to St Martin public hall between 9.15am and 10.45am on Thursday 4 March 2010. 15 drivers received defect notices and 2 small commercial vehicles were impounded for fuel leaks, while a lorry and a car were sent to a workshop to have oil leaks fixed.
A small pick up lorry was impounded for being significantly overloaded, and another small van with worn tyres, blowing exhaust and lights which weren't working was sent to a workshop for repair.
Officers from Customs and Immigration checked fuel from 37 vehicles to see if they were running lawfully. Inspector of Motor Traffic Alan Muir said, "This was the first scheduled road check of the year and it was disappointing that the very first vehicle into the check was impounded for severe fuel leaks. A further 4 vehicles were also found to have oil or fuel leaks.
“Given the danger that oil on roads presents to other motorists, particularly motorcyclists, and the damage it causes to the road surface, drivers should be in no doubt that where vehicles are found leaking fluids they will be impounded."
A further 9 drivers were given defect notices due to damaged bodywork, faulty lights, worn tyres and worn or faulty windscreen wipers and asked to go to DVS once their vehicles had been fixed. A driver was also told to attend a parish hall enquiry for driving a car displaying an out of date insurance disc.
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