Coach operators from Kinglassie and Kirkcaldy have had their licences to operate public service vehicles revoked after a public inquiry in Edinburgh.
Ian Sommerville and William Murray had licences revoked following the inquiry investigating accusations of using more vehicles than their licences entitled them to, and operating with the wrong class of licence.
Ian’s Coaches Ltd of Kinglassie and Mac-Murs Tours of Kirkcaldy each had authorisation for one vehicle.
It was alleged that the two men collaborated to operate more than one vehicle, and also that they had incorrect licences for the class of vehicle being operated.
At the inquiry it was found that poor record keeping ensured it was very difficult to tell which vehicles were being operated and under which licences.
Joan Aitken, traffic commissioner for Scotland, said: “The record keeping was as atrocious as I have seen in my time as traffic commissioner and served to make it almost impossible for VOSA to know with any accuracy what was going on.”
The two men were accused of conspiring to operate more vehicles than they were authorised to do, and keeping poor records of drivers’ pay and hours to make ascertaining the use of vehicles impossible.
The two companies were investigated for making use of both operator’s discs allowing them to operate vehicles, but using them in an unlawful way allowing multiple vehicles owned by Ian’s Coaches to be used, despite only possessing provisions for use of a single vehicle.
Ms Aitken said: “I am in no doubt that Mr Sommerville had access to two discs and operated two vehicles, with two discs at times.”
She revoked the public service vehicle operator’s licences of Ian’s Coaches and William Murray.
Ian Sommerville, the operator and director of Ian’s Coaches, was given a warning.
William Murray, in addition to revocation of licence, will have any further application considered by public inquiry.