Garage owner fined for selling dangerous part-worns amid crackdown

Owner ordered to pay over £6,600 by magistrates after two dangerous part-worns seized

Garage owner fined for selling dangerous part-worns amid crackdown
Tyres seized from the garage.

The owner of a garage in Yorkshire who ignored safety advice from trading standards officers and was found to be selling old, part-worn tyres that could have caused “catastrophic failure” if used on a car has been ordered to pay over £6,600 by magistrates.

Marek Lukaszczyk, owner of Mark’s Garage in Bridlington, was charged with two counts of being in possession for supply of a tyre that was unsafe under the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 as the external cord was exposed.

Lukaszczyk failed to appear at Beverley Magistrates Court last Wednesday, and the case was proved in his absence.

It comes just a week after the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, warned of a crackdown on dodgy retailers that sell dangerous part-worn tyres.

Trading standards officers from East Riding of Yorkshire Council his garage business in October as part of a Yorkshire and Humber-wide survey into premises selling part-worn tyres.

Seized tyres

The court heard how during the visit, officers seized two tyres from the defendant’s stock of part-worn tyres that were available to buy by members of the public as they were showing evidence of being unsafe.

The tyres seized were 28 and 10-years-old with signs of age-related deterioration – both were deemed unsafe for further service.

Lukaszczyk had previously laid the blame with a former employee who had failed to complete the necessary checks.

The owner was given a warning in 2014 by trading standards officers for a similar issue and, despite the efforts of the officers to help, the defendant continually ignored advice.

Magistrates fined Lukaszczyk £2,500 for each offence, ordered him to pay costs of £1,505.44 and a victim surcharge of £170, making a total of £6,675.44.

“Put people’s lives at risk”

Cllr Mike Stathers, portfolio holder for enhancing communities at East Riding of Yorkshire Council: said: “It is clear from the severity of the fine for these offences that magistrates took this very seriously.

“The defendant was selling part-worn tyres which, if used, could have put people’s lives at risk.

“This case serves as a warning to those dealing in part-worn tyres that trading standards officers will continue to ensure the safety of the public by carrying out checks to ensure they meet safety standards.

“Consumers may feel they are getting a bargain by buying second-hand tyres or some consumers may not have any other choice, but irrespective of that they have the right to demand the products they buy are safe and legal.”

According to the latest government figures, 17 people were killed and 719 injured in reported accidents in the UK in 2017 in which illegal, defective or underinflated tyres were a contributing factor.

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Home Page Forums Garage owner fined for selling dangerous part-worns amid crackdown

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  • #178905 Reply

    The owner of a garage in Yorkshire who ignored safety advice from trading standards officers and was found to be selling old, part-worn tyres that cou
    [See the full post at: Garage owner fined for selling dangerous part-worns amid crackdown]

    #178937 Reply
    Keith osborn
    Guest

    not all the tyres at our 2 local partworn tyre centres are marked or checked before re-sale, we are an mot centre and have had a few issues with part worn tyres being fitted after a mot failure with what was the outside edge being fitted the other way round to hide the sidewall damage.

    #178944 Reply
    Steve pilmoor
    Guest

    part worn tyres should be banned, a cheap new tyre doesn’t cost much more, how many tyres have been taken off to find anywhere between 2 and 5 puncture repairs, it’s unbelievable what people will do to save a few pounds with the possibility of killing them selves or other innocent people, absolutely disgraceful

    #180856 Reply
    Andrew MacCredie
    Guest

    We will never fit part worn or customer supplied tyres. It dosent matter what they say about “Just fit them for me mate” or “Ill pay cash” etc they will always come back to you if there are any issues and you will end up putting it right, by law.

    It is never worth it. Get the old tyres disposed of through a registered contractor where you can audit what comes in and goes out.

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