The Dealer received a call earlier this week from one haulage contractor who informed him of a case where the Gardaí ruthlessly enforced the 4.65m height restriction.

The haulier was stopped by a member of the traffic corps last week carrying three rows of straw bales on a flat-bed trailer. Curious to the height of his load, the diligent member of the force scaled the trailer with a tape to get an accurate measurement.

The Garda found that the haulier was a full 10cm (four inches) above the height regulations and made him kick off the entire top row of bales. The haulier was forced to come back later and collect the bales that he had deposited at the roadside.

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The new ruling is now part of the law of the land but the Dealer thinks enforcing the law to such an extent is heavy-handed nonsense by an Garda Síochána. Surely, it would make sense to allow some leeway or flexibility.

If hauliers are being forced to make multiple trips for loads of straw, it will be an added cost to them, which is likely to be passed on to the farmer.