Discussion
wonderful.
I was in the US for 8 weeks on business. During this period the tax on one of my cars expired as well as the MOT. Due to DVLAs own rules I couldn't not do anything about this before I left (more than 5 weeks before expiry).
I returned and booked car into garage for MOT, and drove it there (legal). Car passed. I then drove it from there to work (a 3/4 mile drive) (prior to going to town with mate at lunch and buying tax which is precisely what I did). halfway there a police car was stopped sorting something unrelated out and was slowly waving traffic past. Had sharp eyes and pulled me over re: tax. I explained - showed him new MOT etc, he was fine and said 'have a nice day'.
then get a letter from DVLA Luton (??) saying I was seen driving without tax and owe them 50 quid or so as well as re-tax. I wrote to them and said "I dont think that's fair and here is why, including copies of my flight tickets etc....."
I hear nothing, and then last Monday get a f**king Court Summons for it! I was also away last week so sent it back as pleading guilty with same explanation attached.
Whilst I know that I should have left car at garage, then got lift to work, then lift to town to get tx etc. it strikes me as unecessarily complex (especially as I have 2 other sodding discs for other vehicles already).
So....do I get anything bad other than a fine out of this? This wont give me a CCJ will it?
I f**king HATE the DVLA with their hypocritical money-making f**king ways and sad jobsworth employee tossers. C**ts.
I was in the US for 8 weeks on business. During this period the tax on one of my cars expired as well as the MOT. Due to DVLAs own rules I couldn't not do anything about this before I left (more than 5 weeks before expiry).
I returned and booked car into garage for MOT, and drove it there (legal). Car passed. I then drove it from there to work (a 3/4 mile drive) (prior to going to town with mate at lunch and buying tax which is precisely what I did). halfway there a police car was stopped sorting something unrelated out and was slowly waving traffic past. Had sharp eyes and pulled me over re: tax. I explained - showed him new MOT etc, he was fine and said 'have a nice day'.
then get a letter from DVLA Luton (??) saying I was seen driving without tax and owe them 50 quid or so as well as re-tax. I wrote to them and said "I dont think that's fair and here is why, including copies of my flight tickets etc....."
I hear nothing, and then last Monday get a f**king Court Summons for it! I was also away last week so sent it back as pleading guilty with same explanation attached.
Whilst I know that I should have left car at garage, then got lift to work, then lift to town to get tx etc. it strikes me as unecessarily complex (especially as I have 2 other sodding discs for other vehicles already).
So....do I get anything bad other than a fine out of this? This wont give me a CCJ will it?
I f**king HATE the DVLA with their hypocritical money-making f**king ways and sad jobsworth employee tossers. C**ts.
You are legally allowed to drive to the MOT station without tax but are you legally allowed to drive back home? Odd question but you never know.
Could the location and timing of the stop have legitimately been on you way back home from the MOT? If so I would go to court and explain as any sensible magistrate would let it go. It'll be more difficult if your timing or route don't tally though.
Could the location and timing of the stop have legitimately been on you way back home from the MOT? If so I would go to court and explain as any sensible magistrate would let it go. It'll be more difficult if your timing or route don't tally though.
Boosted LS1 said:
I was done for no tax twenty odd years ago so I taxed it the same day I was stopped. When I went to court they magistrates found that I was taxed for that day as tax went back to midnight, ie before I was stopped 
Boosted.
Didn't you used to (maybe still do) get done for Failing to Display, even if you did actually have the disc but it had dropped off?
Failing to display is still an offence. I had my tax disc stolen from my car and was advised that I could be done for failing to display when driving home. I made sure I reported it and got a crime number there and then to sway any sharp eyed copper who should choose to stop me. It would not have been a defence, but good mitigation.
nightmare said:Not necessarily end of. Depends on where you were pulled and if it could reasonably have been on your way home from the MOT. If that is the case then I can see you getting off quite easily as the journey would have been lawful.
I dont deny my culpability as I was clearly driving without tax. end of. But i would have thought the lazy little f**kers would have ahd the grace to write back to me or whatever rather than just sending me a court summons.
deva link said:
I was done for no tax twenty odd years ago so I taxed it the same day I was stopped. When I went to court they magistrates found that I was taxed for that day as tax went back to midnight, ie before I was stopped
Boosted.
Didn't you used to (maybe still do) get done for Failing to Display, even if you did actually have the disc but it had dropped off?
Yes but I had none to display so was charged for having no tax. They couldn't charge me with both
Boosted.
splatspeed said:
my dad was in hospital with cancer
couldn't sorn his car as he was in issolation
80 quid fine
and the car was off the road at my house
you should be used to tony by now you have had long enough
Even in this day and age I don't believe he/you couldn't have got that waived - OK, it might be hard to get to the right person, but I'd have been in touch with my MP. Any government department craps themselves when an MP contacts them (usually it goes all the way up to the relevant Minister and back down again).
7db said:Good question, if a bit sideways, but the one about 'who pays for losing those lives that could have been saved with a more effective road safety policy that doesn't focus on criminalising and fining safe drivers' is an even better one surely.
Nice to know tax comes before saving lives.
what do you think pays for the saving of lives?
On current form it won't be an incompetent senior politician but an incompetent senior bureaucrat who "hasn't got the faintest idea" about proven road safety principles.
I am sorry, but taxes also pay for soldiers do they not? So we are also paying taxes to kill more foreigners in their own land than were killed on our roads last year...
I was perhaps rather trite about it, however, to clarify, the collection of the road tax came over and above the simple logical and oh my god so what if it isn't in your tick box approach to the world at large, and the fact that this person had no way to pay the tax. There is some for a margin of appreciation as they say....
I was perhaps rather trite about it, however, to clarify, the collection of the road tax came over and above the simple logical and oh my god so what if it isn't in your tick box approach to the world at large, and the fact that this person had no way to pay the tax. There is some for a margin of appreciation as they say....
Having had a previous life in the Civil Service, I can say that the individuals dealing with cases have no discretion and must obey all the rules - no matter how daft or heartless. Management consists of people who have made so many cock-ups they must be got out of the way - promoted!
One of the reasons I got a real job
One of the reasons I got a real job
From what I remember the law states you may drive a vehicle without tax/mot
TO or FROM a pre-arranged place of test or repair.
As you had booked the m.o.t test and were travelling home
(by direct route I presume) then that is fine.
If you went 10 miles out the way to get some fish and chips then its a fair cop.
Personally I'd reply to the summons stating you intend to plead not guilty at court. If the CPS decide to take it ( doubtful ) the magistrate, having seen the mitigsation would throw it straight out and CPS gets a bollocking for wasting court time/tax payers money. Have a word with a brief specialising in traffic law to confirm 1st though, or alternatively wait for a BiB to pass by here......
TO or FROM a pre-arranged place of test or repair.
As you had booked the m.o.t test and were travelling home
(by direct route I presume) then that is fine.
If you went 10 miles out the way to get some fish and chips then its a fair cop.
Personally I'd reply to the summons stating you intend to plead not guilty at court. If the CPS decide to take it ( doubtful ) the magistrate, having seen the mitigsation would throw it straight out and CPS gets a bollocking for wasting court time/tax payers money. Have a word with a brief specialising in traffic law to confirm 1st though, or alternatively wait for a BiB to pass by here......
Cant recall exactly, but I think SORN came out in about January of what ever year it did.
My car's roadtax was going to expire at the end of the month, on the 6th I was flying to Singapore, no probs, car was on the driveway, my wife doesnt drive. I read about SORN in a car mag and the fine of up to £1000 for non compliance, so called DVLA for advise.
I explained that I couldnt re-tax it, coz it was to early in the month, the SORN form wouldnt come through until they sent my re-tax documents, therefore I couldnt complete the SORN document so what was I to do.
The only advise was for either my wife to have to walk down the post office, or a neighbour tax the car for me. I explained that I had no need to tax it as it was off the highway, but at the same wouldn't be in the country to complete the SORN document which I didnt have, so do you think I am liable for the fine of up to £1000.
She said "Yes well I supose you are", thats when I bit my tongue............
Have a nice day guys
My car's roadtax was going to expire at the end of the month, on the 6th I was flying to Singapore, no probs, car was on the driveway, my wife doesnt drive. I read about SORN in a car mag and the fine of up to £1000 for non compliance, so called DVLA for advise.
I explained that I couldnt re-tax it, coz it was to early in the month, the SORN form wouldnt come through until they sent my re-tax documents, therefore I couldnt complete the SORN document so what was I to do.
The only advise was for either my wife to have to walk down the post office, or a neighbour tax the car for me. I explained that I had no need to tax it as it was off the highway, but at the same wouldn't be in the country to complete the SORN document which I didnt have, so do you think I am liable for the fine of up to £1000.
She said "Yes well I supose you are", thats when I bit my tongue............
Have a nice day guys
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff