The lorry was found going up the M5 and was stopped between Exeter and Cullompton. It was later taken to the DVSA site at Sampford Peverell, off Junction 27.
Writing on Twitter yesterday, officers explained that the vehicle weighed 65 tonnes and was travelling too fast on the motorway. In addition to the excess weight, the vehicle had a loose wheel nut and defective brakes.
Showman’s Vehicle stopped today. Excess speed for weight, excess weight, loose wheel nut and defective brakes. 65 tonnes on the motorway, too fast, with poor brakes. Prohibited and reported. 4300 pic.twitter.com/KrxzJ3icjs
— Devon and Cornwall Roads Policing Team 🚔 (@DC_RPT) April 25, 2022
As a result, the lorry was prohibited and the driver reported.
Replying to a question on Twitter, Devon and Cornwall Roads Policing Team explained that showmen’s vehicles are exempt from a lot of LGV legislation, including plating and testing, drivers hours, operators licensing and have low tax.
The author of the official police tweet added “I have no idea why they are, and they really shouldn’t be, but successive governments let them.”
The police’s twitter account also replied to a social media user who accused them of “having nothing better to do”, writing “Nothing better to do than deal with dangerously unsafe vehicles, you mean? Umm. Nope.”