Driver carrying payload almost three times max
By Brendan Grehan
A DRIVER who was carrying 9,000 kilogrammes of topsoil in a vehicle with a maximum payload of 3,500kg has been fined €300 for careless driving.
Garda Shane Bonner told Blanchardstown District Court that the vehicle Michael Dowling (42) was driving was carrying nearly three times its maximum weight.
Blanchardstown District Court
Dowling had been accused of dangerous driving, but it was reduced to careless driving on a guilty plea.
The offence occurred at the Naas Road on April 12, 2019.
Dowling, has an address at Woodview, Cush, Kildangan, Co Kildare.
Garda Bonner told Judge David McHugh that at 3.50pm on April 12 last, he observed a truck driving from the M50 onto the Naas Road.
He said the truck was overloaded with top soil and he produced photographs which were examined by Judge McHugh.
Garda Bonner said the truck had a maximum payload of 3,500kg. The truck was taken to the weighbridge in Rathcoole and it weighed over 9,000kg, the garda added.
He said the vehicle was so overloaded that the back wheels were rubbing against each other and the soil was coming off the top of the truck. A shock absorber was also broken on the vehicle.
He added: “You are not going to stop in this vehicle.”
Judge McHugh commented that it was a 2016-registered vehicle.
Garda Bonnar said: “It was completely unfit for purpose.”
Judge McHugh said he would reduce the charge to careless driving.
Garda Bonner said Dowling had a previous conviction for drunken driving and dangerous driving from July 28, 2003.
Dowling’s counsel said his client had been asked by his employer, who was in court, to go to a site and pick up top soil. He said the vehicle was owned by Dowling’s employer.
Judge McHugh fined Dowling €300 for careless driving.
