Pensioner scammed - he'd sold car

[MMC]

Speeding fine shock for man who sold car Mix-up with paperwork leaves pensioner, 77, facing court after new owner is caught on speed camera

Alexandra Wood

WITH his young face and dark hair there can be no question of confusing the driver in the picture with elderly Laurie Motherby.
But despite Mr Motherby, 77, having being 12 miles away in east Hull, it is he who faces going into the dock over the speeding offence allegedly committed by the stranger.
Mr Motherby and his wife Doreen sold their E-registered Toyota Corolla to a man who described himself as an Indian last Spring.
So they were amazed when they found themselves facing a speeding fine, despite a picture taken by speed cameras clearly showing a young dark-haired male driver and two passengers in their old car.
The men were caught on camera doing 45mph in a 30mph zone in Welton, near Hull, last summer.
Although the couple claim they notified the DVLA when they sold their car in the spring, Humberside Police say the papers relating to change of ownership were dated much later, in September.
As the alleged offence occurred in June, 77-year-old Mr Motherby is still liable, as registered keeper of the car.
The couple, who sold the car for £300, now face a fine of £60, three penalty points and higher insurance premiums. Both have been driving for 40 years and have never had a speeding fine before.
Mrs Motherby, who has been driving since 1963, said she was worried about the effect on her husband's health.
"As far as I know we sold it to an Indian who had come from India two years previously and that was it.
"He said he wanted the car and we sold it and we got him to sign our papers and the papers that you send to the DVLA. We sent ours."
The couple have been informed that if Mr Motherby does not appear before Beverley magistrates on February 10 he could be arrested.
Mrs Motherby said they were at the end of their tether, having suffered recent family tragedy. Their daughter Sharon Jackson was killed after falling off a scooter in 2003.
Mrs Motherby said: "We just want to get it quashed. We have had too much tragedy in our lives."
A police spokeswoman said: "We can only go on the details provided by the DVLA and the Motherbys tell us they can't remember the name of the person they sold the car to.
"As Mr Motherby remains the registered keeper he maintains responsibility for the vehicle's use. That is why we always advise people to keep a note of the name and address of the person you sell your car to."
The DVLA said: "It is unfortunate that the Motherbys did not advise the DVLA. It is important to let them know when they dispose of a vehicle, or unfortunately this kind of thing can happen."
Under the Road Traffic Act, a person who is prosecuted for a driving offence must provide police with the name and address of the driver if they were not at the wheel.
Failure to send in notification of change of ownership is also an offence, carrying a fine of up to £1,000.
The case comes only days after Yorkshire sailor Steven Andrews was summonsed by York magistrates for driving while using a mobile phone – although he does not possess a driving licence or car and claims he was aboard his ship, HMS Ocean, in Plymouth when the ticket was issued.

01 February 2005

[WildCat]

Liebchen - this does not surprise me und I hope they have good solicitor who ist aware of the background toe this little snippet which appeared in last Friday's "Manchester Evening News"

Tony Howard reported:

The DVLA must improve its data bases to help police solve car crime.

A report by the National Audit Office said the 32% of all records held by DVLA contained errors"

Und stated that records were not being updated quickly enough!

Und it stated that the ever growing use of speed cameras meant that ist even more important to have accurate records!

Surprisingly the report praised the government und not the police for reducing car thefts/break-ins by 30% since 1999.

They should tell that to the victims of the scrotes who patrol Manchester's car jackers alley

But the report said that car park security should be improved in many areas.

The Report allegedly finds that there are signifiant gaps in the moves which are designed to make it harder for crroks to clone und give cars identities of written off vehicles.

Seven out of ten councils mit highest car rime rate have not set up a register of salvage yards. There ist also a loophole which allows purchase of number plates from unregistered suppliers in Scotland und Northern Ireland which needs clsoing.

Apparently there were 241,000 car thefts und 1.2 million break-ins in 2003.

The report concluded that the DVLA must improve its record keeping as this was leading to too many errors.