How Hard is it to Get an Illegal Vehicle Off the Road?
How Hard is it to Get an Illegal Vehicle Off the Road?
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Russian Troll Bot

Original Poster:

26,088 posts

257 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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For at least 3 months there has been a LWB van in our street, taking up 2 spaces where parking is already tight. It has no rear plate, front plate shoved in the windscreen, one wing mirror, missing wheel nuts and covered in dents. It appears to be used as a static storage unit by someone on the next road over, as on a few occasions people have been loading or unloading into it. Hasn't been taxed or MOT'ed since September 2016 and shows as no insurance.

Tried reporting it to the police, who just direct you to the local council. Did that months ago, and when asked for an update they say it was passed to the DVLA. Apparently they did show up a month ago to tow it, but only brought a recovery truck suitable for a car so haven't tried again.

Now it has a trade plate in the window, which as I understand it would cover the tax and MOT but is only for use when testing or demonstrating a vehicle, not leaving on a public highway for months on end. Looking on the DLVA website I can't see anywhere to report misuse of the plates either. They love sending out automatic fines and the local police are always happy to boast online about how many illegal vehicles they've taken off the road, so why is no one interested in this one?

93DW

1,437 posts

133 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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I would imagine it has been put into trade on the logbook with false details meaning the owner is impossible to find if its uninsured

Some Gump

13,018 posts

216 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Step 1: Buy gerbils.
Step 2: Introduce gerbils to van.
Step 3: Facebook.

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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It's the LA's responsibility / legal duty.

Make a complaint to them if they've not removed an abandoned vehicle.

PorkInsider

6,596 posts

171 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Tell the police you saw it speeding?

the tribester

2,932 posts

116 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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La Liga said:
It's the LA's responsibility / legal duty.

Make a complaint to them if they've not removed an abandoned vehicle.
LA will (possibly) attend, see the Trade Plates acting as Road Tax and leave it alone.

Parking is not a permitted use of Trade Plates, so it's back to DVLA, but include the Trade Plate info in the 'other comments' box. DVLA are reluctant to withdraw Trade Plates even if obviously mis-used, so keep on at them.

Is it abandoned?, as the OP says 'as on a few occasions people have been loading or unloading into it.''

It could also be covered, but not specified, on a traders motor insurance policy.

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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That's fair enough if it's not classed as abandoned, it sounds like your knowledge on the subject is greater than mine.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 21st August 18:15

grumpy52

6,064 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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The trade plate DOES NOT COVER MOT .
If it has a plate on it it must be displayed front and rear .
They will revoke the trade plate if it is being abused , which this clearly is .
Keep pestering the local authority and also the DVLA and inform them that the trade plates are being used illegally.
I would be suprised if the trade plates are actually currently licensed and legal for use .

Mr Tidy

31,534 posts

157 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Major PITA IME!

A car got dumped near me - not taxed or SORN'd, but DVLA weren't interested.

Local authority were keen to avoid doing anything, but I pointed out it wasn't taxed, sorn'd, insured or MOT'd.

4 weeks or so ago they stuck a sticker on the screen to say they were aware of it - but it's still there! banghead

So to answer your question OP, it's an uphill struggle for sure!

danzltiu

590 posts

232 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Tow it into the middle of the road so its causing an obstruction!!!!

strain

419 posts

131 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Neighbour dumped a van over the road from me, not particularly an issue but its been dumped for about 7 months now, just waiting to be broken into or set fire to.

Reported it to DVSA as untaxed / uninsured parked on a road and that was atleast 4 months ago

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Are the parking spaces privately owned?

silverfoxcc

8,463 posts

175 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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strain said:
Neighbour dumped a van over the road from me, not particularly an issue but its been dumped for about 7 months now, just waiting to be broken into or set fire to.

Reported it to DVSA as untaxed / uninsured parked on a road and that was atleast 4 months ago
Set fire to??

Such a terrible thought, as if the fire brigade need practice!

( are there any other cars in the vicinity when it self combusts that might get damaged?)

robdcfc

525 posts

188 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Trade plates dont cover the tax when the vehicle is parked, they are on for moving vehicles from on place to another not for a longer period such as parking up

jesfirth

1,743 posts

272 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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break into it- the police will arrive quite quickly.

Uncool

486 posts

311 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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We had something like this a while ago. An age old Vectra parted a foot away from the kerb, not taxed etc. I reported it on here

It was clamped within 48 hours and gone within a week.

Hol

9,316 posts

230 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018
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Start throwing all your household rubbish inside it.

Saves you going to the tip.

Russian Troll Bot

Original Poster:

26,088 posts

257 months

Friday 24th August 2018
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Update - just had a text from a neighbour saying the DVLA turned up today and lifted it, apparently whilst the owner stood there ranting that his trade plates allowed him to park on the road. So that's two more parking spaces available and one less illegal vehicle on the road. Hopefully they take it straight to the crusher with all his possessions still in it.

oakdale

2,000 posts

232 months

Saturday 25th August 2018
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Excellent result.

anonymous-user

84 months

Saturday 25th August 2018
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
A council near me has this info https://www.stockport.gov.uk/parking-on-highway-gr...
If only they were more proactive in enforcing it amongst the lazy.