The DVSA has issued a record-breaking penalty of more than £750,000 to a company for repeated driving offences, with the agency warning motorists to follow the rules or pay the price.
The penalty was issued to a milk operator for repeatedly overloading its vehicles while travelling on UK roads, which risks the safety of other road users.
The operator was ordered to pay a total of £759,000 after being convicted of overloading its vehicles as well as having defective offences.
The company was caught during three routine inspections by the DVSA, having flouted the rules between August 2024 and February this year.
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The agency took the milk operator to court before issuing its largest fine
DVSAThe DVSA warned that the severe penalty amount was due to the company’s vehicles previously being found overloaded or with dangerous defects, and despite warnings, continuing to operate in an unsafe manner.
The agency detailed how the biggest overloaded vehicle weighed 5,040kg against the 3,500kg maximum weight, making it 44 per cent over the limit.
Another vehicle was overloaded by 1,080kg, making it 30.9 per cent over the maximum permitted limit. The DVSA also flagged how it had "significant roadworthiness issues" including braking defects and inoperative direction indicators.
The DVSA said the operator has "rightly been hit with the biggest fine ever for a DVSA prosecution".
The DVSA issued several penalties to the milk operator before it received the largest fine for repeated offences
DVSA
Under UK law, drivers with overloaded vehicles can be fined in several ways. If it is less than 10 per cent overloaded, they can be fined £100, while a £300 fine can be given for a vehicle which has been overloaded between 10 and 15 per cent.
The DVSA shared: "Normally, a fixed penalty would be inappropriate for serious cases of overloading - for example, when the vehicle is overloaded by 30 per cent and over, or the excess weight is five tonnes - so a court summons would be issued instead."
The agency warned that if the excess weight is having a significant effect on road safety, "these other offences will mean a court summons, with the excess weight being part of the offences".
Drivers caught breaking the weight limit by DVSA enforcement officers can also be prevented from going any further in the vehicle.
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A fixed penalty is also the preferred option for dealing with excess weight offences unless the offence is too serious. In the milk operator's case, the vehicle’s condition was found to pose a danger to fellow road users, with the DVSA issuing an immediate prohibition.
As part of the total fine, the company was ordered to pay £750,000 in penalties as well as £6,000 in victim surcharge and £3,000 in costs. Two drivers were also prosecuted and issued smaller fines and costs.
Marian Kitson, DVSA Director of Enforcement, said: "DVSA’s priority is to protect everyone from unsafe vehicles and drivers.
"We target operators who try to undercut the competition by cutting corners on safety or using the wrong type of vehicle."
The company was fined £759,000 for repeatedly overloading its vehicles while on UK roads
DVSA
She warned that operators who continually flout the rules "will face the full force of the law, as demonstrated by the success of this prosecution."
Kitson added: "There is no excuse for vehicle operators who fail to comply and put the safety of other road users at risk."
The DVSA shared on the social media platform X: "Milk Operator fined £759,000 at Bristol Magistrates Court. Multiple Overloading and Defective Vehicle Offences.
"Know your vehicle weights and your load, keep fair competition, ensure maintenance and keep roads safe! DVSA targeting the serially and seriously non-compliant."
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