James May in court for no insurance
James May in court for no insurance
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Discussion

aceofspades1

Original Poster:

356 posts

45 months

Thursday 26th March
quotequote all
https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/james-may-settl...

Are the news articles on James May missing some context?

At face value, seems like he just forgot to insure a motorbike he had parked up in his garage. Did he then choose to ignore the letters from the DVLA trying to fine him?

AFAIK, it's a £50 fine for failing to insure or correctly SORN a vehicle. Seems harsh to have to turn up to court about it

the tribester

2,842 posts

110 months

Thursday 26th March
quotequote all
I understand he was summonsed to court, entered a not guilty plea, but has settled the case without a trial. I imagine he's just paid the original penalty.

martinbiz

3,660 posts

169 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
the tribester said:
I understand he was summonsed to court, entered a not guilty plea, but has settled the case without a trial. I imagine he's just paid the original penalty.
It was settled out of court so he wouldn't have entered any plea. Yes I would imagine he just paid the enhanced DVLA penalty for breaching the CIE rules. The usual enthusiastic reporting, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Jeremy-75qq8

1,654 posts

116 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
I have a 50 plus year old Honda st70 in the garage that I have had since childhood. It was registered in my dad's name then but I think it is in my name now. No idea what address.

Am I supposed to insure it ?

Not moved for 40 years.

Bill

57,465 posts

279 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
Jeremy-75qq8 said:
I have a 50 plus year old Honda st70 in the garage that I have had since childhood. It was registered in my dad's name then but I think it is in my name now. No idea what address.

Am I supposed to insure it ?

Not moved for 40 years.
If it's been off the road since before the SORN rules came in it's fine.

Riley Blue

22,966 posts

250 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
Bill said:
Jeremy-75qq8 said:
I have a 50 plus year old Honda st70 in the garage that I have had since childhood. It was registered in my dad's name then but I think it is in my name now. No idea what address.

Am I supposed to insure it ?

Not moved for 40 years.
If it's been off the road since before the SORN rules came in it's fine.
How do you prove that? In my case it's easy as the car I have that is neither SORN'd nor insured is in a state of total disassemblement - no engine, no interior, no glass etc. Perhaps James's bike is similar?

Bill

57,465 posts

279 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
How do you prove that? In my case it's easy as the car I have that is neither SORN'd nor insured is in a state of total disassemblement - no engine, no interior, no glass etc. Perhaps James's bike is similar?
When it was last taxed, I guess.

SS427 Camaro

7,977 posts

194 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
Jeremy-75qq8 said:
I have a 50 plus year old Honda st70 in the garage that I have had since childhood. It was registered in my dad's name then but I think it is in my name now. No idea what address.

Am I supposed to insure it ?

Not moved for 40 years.
Then sell it to me…..!

sixor8

7,997 posts

292 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
Since it was an old bike, it would be £0 VED.

I'm assuming the insurance expired and he forgot to renew it. scratchchin If a vehicle is SORN (or untaxed since before it was invented in 1998), it doesn't have to be insured. I don't understand how it came to need a court appearance, or non appearance it seems. Perhaps he was abroad / letter was lost, and the time to pay the fine expired before court action?

carinaman

24,533 posts

196 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
Is driving without insurance a criminal offence and a mandatory six points?

paul_c123

1,928 posts

17 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
carinaman said:
Is driving without insurance a criminal offence and a mandatory six points?
James May was not driving without insurance.

carinaman

24,533 posts

196 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
paul_c123 said:
carinaman said:
Is driving without insurance a criminal offence and a mandatory six points?
James May was not driving without insurance.
So it's just 'keeping it' not riding it?

Thanks for the clarification.

I've been looking at images of orange GT750 Kettles.

_Rodders_

1,490 posts

43 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
What a waste of time and resources.

Jeremy-75qq8

1,654 posts

116 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
Bill said:
If it's been off the road since before the SORN rules came in it's fine.
Good to know thanks !

Jeremy-75qq8

1,654 posts

116 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
SS427 Camaro said:
Then sell it to me ..!
Original flower seat. Sentimental value I am afraid !

donkmeister

11,793 posts

124 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
I've got a (modern) car that I've SORN'd no fewer than three times that still doesn't show up as SORN. I've tried emails to the DVLA, they just tell me it's not recorded as SORN and direct me to the process. Hence why I've SORN'd it three times now. Last insured less than 10 years ago.

I gave up trying about 5 years ago, never had any threats of fines. It's registered to my home address, I have the V5 and so on. I've SORN'D several other cars at the same address. All very weird.

agtlaw

7,306 posts

230 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
martinbiz said:
It was settled out of court so he wouldn't have entered any plea. Yes I would imagine he just paid the enhanced DVLA penalty for breaching the CIE rules. The usual enthusiastic reporting, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
SJPN issued. Plea entered online (or by post). Court hearing. D attends court and agrees an 'out of court settlement' with the prosecuting authority. Case adjourned. If D pays as agreed then proceedings are discontinued.







Edited by agtlaw on Saturday 28th March 03:35

John D.

20,329 posts

233 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
What has the DVLA got to do with insurance?

How did the bike not comply with insurance requirements?

agtlaw

7,306 posts

230 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
John D. said:
What has the DVLA got to do with insurance?
Wow. CIE offence.

John D.

20,329 posts

233 months

Friday 27th March
quotequote all
agtlaw said:
John D. said:
What has the DVLA got to do with insurance?
Wow. CIE offence.
Never knew that was thing (obviously!).