Gardai seized a 4X4 and trailer yesterday (Saturday, July 29) after it emerged that the vehicle was using green diesel and the driver gave a “false name” – presumably in an attempt to avoid prosecution.
A tweet on the Garda Twitter page said: “A brush with the law: 4X4 and trailer worth €30,000 forfeited to state. Registered in false name to avoid prosecution. Using green diesel too.”
Lower-cost green diesel can only be used in limited circumstances by designated vehicles and equipment, such as tractors undertaking agricultural work.
'A brush with the law' 4X4 & trailer worth 30K forfeited to State. Registered in false name to avoid prosecution. Using green diesel too pic.twitter.com/6s8neP1nYa
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) July 29, 2017
Meanwhile, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging drivers to ensure they have the correct licence for the trailers they are towing.
Its comments follow a number of cases where drivers of 4X4 vehicles have been pulled over by Gardai for pulling trailers without the correct licence.
At the end of June, a driver of a Toyota Landcruiser was stopped in Co. Wexford while towing a trailer, according to a tweet on the official Twitter page for An Garda Siochana. The driver was said not to have a valid BE driving licence.
“If you have a category B driving licence to drive a vehicle – a car or jeep – you can tow a small trailer. If you want to tow a larger trailer, you must have category BE on your licence,” an RSA spokesperson said.
“On a category B licence, you can tow a trailer with a MAM – maximum authorised mass – of not greater than 750kg, and/or if the MAM of the trailer exceeds 750kg, the total combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer must not exceed 3,500kg.
As a general rule, your category B licence will not allow you to tow a horse box or a livestock trailer for bringing animals to the local mart.