VOSA Vans

Flyboy152

Inactive wrote: »

I always thought that it was Customs and Excise ( or whatever they are called these days ) that carried out that function.

I think VOSA now do it on their behalf, as well as HMRC doing spot checks as well.

Flying-High_2

Theres usually a customs van doing the Diesel whilst Vosa do their thing on the A41 at differing points....

Last time I was stopped it was Customs/Vosa & Merseyside Police in a joint stop/search and inspection..

You can have the 6weekly check done where you like as long as its a recognised commercial setup... Proof has to be presented for the TC that it'll be done properly...

Gordon_Hose

See loads of them on the M25. Usually sat eating sandwiches behind the barriered hard shoulder under a couple of the bridges in Surrey.

KillerWatt

Gloomendoom wrote: »

They (VOSA) have also been known to show an unhealthy interest in trailers towed by cars.

What is unhealthy about checking that whatever is attached to your vehicle is also in a roadworthy condition?

Tucker

Inactive wrote: »

I always thought that it was Customs and Excise ( or whatever they are called these days ) that carried out that function.

You might be right on the Red desiel. VOSA do immissions checks though.

Nilrem

KillerWatt wrote: »

What is unhealthy about checking that whatever is attached to your vehicle is also in a roadworthy condition?

And within the safe limits of the manufacturers testing for the vehicle pulling it...
It's quite scary the way a lot of people either don't realise their car has a weight limit for safe towing, or don't consider the fact the trailer has to have things like reasonable tyres (IE not cracked and bulging), and be structurally sound.

In some ways I think it was a very good thing that they changed the licence, so that new drivers don't get automatic trailer entitlements given how badly some people understand the importance of things like MAM and braked/unbraked limits (my astra can pull a mini on a trailer, it's a small car...).



Back on topic, as has been said VOSA are the go to guys for vehicle checks - iirc any police officer who feels unsure about a problem with a motor vehicle can/will escalate right up to VOSA if they feel the need (usually after getting a traffic officer), but Vosa's main role is checking commercial vehicles and unusual ones as they are trained quite highly in those areas.

optimus_primera

Worst trailer towing i have seen was a VW Golf towing an land rover 90 on a twin axle non car type trailer on the M62 ....... by non car type i mean 4 small wheels under the load bed,(as opposed to car type with the load inbetween the wheels.)
how the Golf come control it was beyond me.

smcaul

The cars can contain different types of VOSA staff, most often they seem to contain Vehicle Examiners, who look over and check the road worthiness of vehicles, this can be commercial or private, but seems to be mostly Commercial. Depending on who you get they can either be good or bad, some know what they are on about and use their brains, others have no idea and if it aint in the book they dont have a clue!!!

The other type the cars sometime contain are Enforcement officers, these guys usually check for tacho infringements and other documents as well as certain other legal requirements such as Operators Licences. It seems you need to have spent quite a while as a Police officer to get one of these jobs, and if you were traffic then you seem to almost be offered the post without interview, they also seem to prefer it if you have zero brain and no thoughts of ever getting one, being obnoxious is also a pre-requisite of this job - as a bonus, if you can get things very wrong, fail at your job and still not admit to things then you get VOSA Enforcement Officer of the year award!!

And yes I do have "professional" dealings with these muppets on an almost daily basis, would be nice if more of the enforcement officers actually knew and understood the laws they are supposed to enforce!!

Hammyman

Wig wrote: »

From what I gather they can stop you if they want to.
They can issue fixed penalties but only to commercial vehicles/transport industry?

They can pull over ALL vehicles. If you're driving a banger that comes to their attention or you're towing a caravan with the rear axle on its knees or you've got a car with a boot full of stuff and the rear axle is on its knees they would most likely give you a pull and invite you to try out their weighbridge and give the vehicle an examination.

Wig

Hammyman wrote: »

They can pull over ALL vehicles. If you're driving a banger that comes to their attention or you're towing a caravan with the rear axle on its knees or you've got a car with a boot full of stuff and the rear axle is on its knees they would most likely give you a pull and invite you to try out their weighbridge and give the vehicle an examination.

Yes, that's what I said. But there is a question on whether they can issue fixed penalties to anyone other than transport industry. And what sort of fixed penalties are they able to issue - for which infringements?