Fine for following procedure?
Discussion
A friend just got a fine.
"CJS Offence Code: VE94096
Offence Wording: Use a [Motor Vehicle / Trailer] When the Rear Registration Mark Was Not Lit During Darkness"
£50 for having a lamp out.
I'm an auto electrician. I don't know of any cars lights having a service interval. Most cars lights require no tools to change them. This is because lamps are used until they fail, and the owner generally replaces them.
Importantly here, the lamp is not a service item. They are used until they fail.
I believe there is a problem here. Legal framework isn't asking us to change lamps that work, but is straight there with the hand out, when they do. This is foul.
I was going to write to the issuing body about this. I have his letter here now though, and clearly it says pay £50 or you will go to court and risk further costs. Listing a couple for good measure. To be honest, it's a little sickening, and reads like blackmail. Which all things considered, it probably is?
No suggestion we should change them until they fail, but a fine when they do. Is this right?
"CJS Offence Code: VE94096
Offence Wording: Use a [Motor Vehicle / Trailer] When the Rear Registration Mark Was Not Lit During Darkness"
£50 for having a lamp out.
I'm an auto electrician. I don't know of any cars lights having a service interval. Most cars lights require no tools to change them. This is because lamps are used until they fail, and the owner generally replaces them.
Importantly here, the lamp is not a service item. They are used until they fail.
I believe there is a problem here. Legal framework isn't asking us to change lamps that work, but is straight there with the hand out, when they do. This is foul.
I was going to write to the issuing body about this. I have his letter here now though, and clearly it says pay £50 or you will go to court and risk further costs. Listing a couple for good measure. To be honest, it's a little sickening, and reads like blackmail. Which all things considered, it probably is?
No suggestion we should change them until they fail, but a fine when they do. Is this right?
Seems odd to me. Clearly if the light fails between setting off and being stopped for it then there’s no reasonable way the driver could know.
I assume the driver failed an attitude test, or the officer stopping them was looking for any reason to give them a booking (rather than just advice). What’s your friend like, and which is more likely?
I assume the driver failed an attitude test, or the officer stopping them was looking for any reason to give them a booking (rather than just advice). What’s your friend like, and which is more likely?
Given the number of cars seen with a missing light this does seem odd.
Dashboards seem to be lit when the ign is on, leading to some drivers not even bothering to switch lights on when needed, some seem to think the DRL are all that is required, often leaving no lighting at all at the rear of the vehicle.
Dashboards seem to be lit when the ign is on, leading to some drivers not even bothering to switch lights on when needed, some seem to think the DRL are all that is required, often leaving no lighting at all at the rear of the vehicle.
friendly1_uk said:
A friend just got a fine.
"CJS Offence Code: VE94096
Offence Wording: Use a [Motor Vehicle / Trailer] When the Rear Registration Mark Was Not Lit During Darkness"
£50 for having a lamp out.
I'm an auto electrician. I don't know of any cars lights having a service interval. Most cars lights require no tools to change them. This is because lamps are used until they fail, and the owner generally replaces them.
Importantly here, the lamp is not a service item. They are used until they fail.
I believe there is a problem here. Legal framework isn't asking us to change lamps that work, but is straight there with the hand out, when they do. This is foul.
I was going to write to the issuing body about this. I have his letter here now though, and clearly it says pay £50 or you will go to court and risk further costs. Listing a couple for good measure. To be honest, it's a little sickening, and reads like blackmail. Which all things considered, it probably is?
No suggestion we should change them until they fail, but a fine when they do. Is this right?
Was it just a bulb failure, or could it have been that the trailer did not have a lamp fitted? "CJS Offence Code: VE94096
Offence Wording: Use a [Motor Vehicle / Trailer] When the Rear Registration Mark Was Not Lit During Darkness"
£50 for having a lamp out.
I'm an auto electrician. I don't know of any cars lights having a service interval. Most cars lights require no tools to change them. This is because lamps are used until they fail, and the owner generally replaces them.
Importantly here, the lamp is not a service item. They are used until they fail.
I believe there is a problem here. Legal framework isn't asking us to change lamps that work, but is straight there with the hand out, when they do. This is foul.
I was going to write to the issuing body about this. I have his letter here now though, and clearly it says pay £50 or you will go to court and risk further costs. Listing a couple for good measure. To be honest, it's a little sickening, and reads like blackmail. Which all things considered, it probably is?
No suggestion we should change them until they fail, but a fine when they do. Is this right?
But it is the same for any light. Not having any light working is an offence. You can get done for not having operational headlights during daylight hours and in good weather. It is a bit of a "tough s
t" offence really. but what is the alternative? I regularly see cars with lights out, if I can I will tell people.
We are supposed to check our lights before each journey. (which is the only "procedural" bit I can see) I doubt anybody does, Where my car is parked I can at least check the rear lights in the glass door.
t" offence really. but what is the alternative? I regularly see cars with lights out, if I can I will tell people.We are supposed to check our lights before each journey. (which is the only "procedural" bit I can see) I doubt anybody does, Where my car is parked I can at least check the rear lights in the glass door.
Just imagine if you did have to change lights at pre-defined intervals, there would be reams of posts along the lines of 'This stupid law says that I have to change something on my car that is working perfectly well', and pretending to suddenly care about the environment and wastefulness etc. And in fairness the OP isn't suggesting that it should be this way. So far as I am aware (and I might be wrong), there is no law regarding ordinary cars that says anything has to be changed at given intervals, be it lights, suspension, steering, brakes, tyres, whatever, it just says (effectively), that everything must be in good enough nick for it to be roadworthy, and it's your responsibility to make sure it is. Your manufacturer's service schedule may say that you should change things at given intervals, but that's not the law and you're not going to get penalised just for not following it.
So the law as it is is how it has to be from a practical point of view. Your car needs to have certain lights, they have to work, and if they don't then you may get a small fine. I suspect 9 times out of 10 if you get pulled for this, and only this (e.g. you weren't otherwise driving like a cock), then saying 'Sorry officer I didn't realise, I'll get it sorted asap' will see you on your way. So to get a fine for it I suspect that either the police officer was being a bit of a knob, which is unfortunate, or your friend was being a bit of a knob, in which case quelle surprise.
So the law as it is is how it has to be from a practical point of view. Your car needs to have certain lights, they have to work, and if they don't then you may get a small fine. I suspect 9 times out of 10 if you get pulled for this, and only this (e.g. you weren't otherwise driving like a cock), then saying 'Sorry officer I didn't realise, I'll get it sorted asap' will see you on your way. So to get a fine for it I suspect that either the police officer was being a bit of a knob, which is unfortunate, or your friend was being a bit of a knob, in which case quelle surprise.
Edited by Roger Irrelevant on Thursday 24th August 08:35
Was it a camera fine or a Bobby fine? Normally you get a producer, where you are given the opportunity to fix the problem . How on earth are you
supposed to know if your plate light blows as you are driving?
And to the guy above who check his car over thoroughly before each journey......... And some more...............
supposed to know if your plate light blows as you are driving?
And to the guy above who check his car over thoroughly before each journey......... And some more...............
snuffy said:
Griffith4ever said:
How on earth are you
supposed to know if your plate light blows as you are driving?
Depends on your car. My 12 year old 500 popped up a helpful message on the dash informing me of such.supposed to know if your plate light blows as you are driving?
I wonder if the OPs mate had a barney with a copper?
Tigerj said:
Did he admit that he knew it was out prior to starting the journey?
Is there a chance he was a bit of a knob to the copper?
Probably this, plod know that lamps fail and to get a fine you need to piss them off.Is there a chance he was a bit of a knob to the copper?
My 2008 Skoda would tell me if a lamp was out, even told me which lamp was out.
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