Fine for driving while SORN - options?

[Mario149]

I SORNed my Caterham over the winter during which the MoT expired. Booked it into the garage for a service and MoT, but before collecting it I forgot to tax it. Got home, put it in the garage, and then finally remembered a few days later and taxed it. Appears a camera or something spotted me on the way home and I've just received a letter from the DVLA with an untaxed vehicle penalty for £279

I've been done bang to rights, no two ways, but I was thinking about "contesting" it like I have done with parking fines in the past which has been very successful i.e. write an apologetic letter, admit I was in the wrong and ask for the fine to be cancelled because although I was in the wrong, it was accidental/only a small infraction/quickly rectified etc. I've had several parking fines rescinded over the years as a result and councils have always seemed reasonable.

So...

Firstly, is there any point in doing this for the untaxed vehicle penalty? Are they allowed to give leeway? I appear to have been caught *literally* 5 mins out of the garage
Secondly, if I do "contest" it, is it like a parking fine where the clock stops on time to make payment, and only restarts when they respond?

[Mario149]

TooMany2cvs said:

Hold on... If you were driving straight back from the MOT, then that's allowed. Was it on the date of the test, or some time later?

Date of the MoT was Fri 18 May, I collected the car and drove home on morning of Sat 19, so the day after.

[Mario149]

Thanks all, makes sense

[Mario149]

soupdragon1 said:

Take a quick snap of the mileage too. The mileage recorded at MOT and current mileage will only show a small discrepancy, further supporting your case that you haven't been taking the mick.

Unfortunately it's done about 400 miles since the MoT as I was at Bedford on Monday, weather as nice and the GT circuit is over 4 miles long....and I live about 100 miles from there

[Mario149]

kiethton said:

Ah, as was I - which caterham were you in?

Good track, my first time there...shame our track tool wasn't particularly reliable (Black pink wheeled supercharged MX5 - later black 130i/grey M135i support cars after it broke)

620R (aeroscreen, blue with orange stripes)

2 mates were with me, one in a white R500 and the other in a bright green k series Supersport

Really like Bedford - lack of elevation changes make it lack a bit of character, but you can't argue with the mahussive run offs for when it all goes a bit wrong!

[Mario149]

To be fair, if they had that much info on me, i'd be rather concerned!

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not watching....!

[Mario149]

What I think is out of order personally is that they don't provide any info on what the defences are in the letter with the fine. There's a number you can call but it's automated, provides none of that info, and you can't speak to a real person.

I'm lucky enough that I can come here or have a Google, but if it had been my 76 yr old mum, she'd have just paid the fine and be £280 down .

Edited by Mario149 on Monday 4th June 10:16

[Mario149]

UPDATE

I sent a letter off explaining a week or so ago, and just got a letter through from DVLA saying no further action will be taken, so looks like all has come good