Kent Police Roads Patrolling Unit spotted an overloaded vehicle on A20 heading to the ports. The vehicle was taken for weighing as the springs appeared overloaded. 

On weighing, it was found that the vehicle was overloaded and had only one pallet on. The driver was issued with a Graduated Fixed Penalty Notices (GFPN). The gross overload was 7.7% with 1% overload on Axle 1.  

Overloading a vehicle can damage roads, increase fuel consumption and cause safety issues for other road users. If you’re caught driving an overloaded vehicle, you could get fined and points on your licence. 

If you’re stopped by the police, they’ll check to see if your vehicle is overloaded. If it is, they may:

– issue you with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) 

– prosecute you 

– seize and confiscate your vehicle 

– escort your vehicle to the nearest weighbridge

If you’re prosecuted for overloading, you could be fined up to £5,000 and get 3-6 penalty points on your licence. In extreme cases, you could be banned from driving.

 

News Credits: Twitter @Kent Police RPU

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