Dealing with foreign registered vehicles
Discussion
Hi all,
This topic is aimed in the general direction of Police folk, but please anyone with half an idea please chip in.
I am looking for input in how potentially to combat the issue of foreign registered vehicles on British roads in terms of them breaking the law - ie.speeding etc.
The main problem is that there is no database that exists of driver/vehicle details either at the DVLA or on PNC (Police National Computer) other than details obtained by officers during a stop. This is mainly a Kent-based question as there are many foreign registered goods vehicles, as well as private vehicles coming through the port of Dover.
Another issue is the language barrier - if a French driver received a NIP or prosecution in English it will most likely be met with a Gallic shrug.
Any thoughts?
This topic is aimed in the general direction of Police folk, but please anyone with half an idea please chip in.
I am looking for input in how potentially to combat the issue of foreign registered vehicles on British roads in terms of them breaking the law - ie.speeding etc.
The main problem is that there is no database that exists of driver/vehicle details either at the DVLA or on PNC (Police National Computer) other than details obtained by officers during a stop. This is mainly a Kent-based question as there are many foreign registered goods vehicles, as well as private vehicles coming through the port of Dover.
Another issue is the language barrier - if a French driver received a NIP or prosecution in English it will most likely be met with a Gallic shrug.
Any thoughts?
You raise a good point and I'd be keen to hear an answer as well.
I'm a lot further north than you but locally we have two pimped out old audis on Polish plates that get driven '10/10ths' shall we say every time you see them regardless of mobile speed cameras, average speed cameras, ANPR and so on, yet there seems to be some loophole that allows this.
Pretty baffling tbh.
I'm a lot further north than you but locally we have two pimped out old audis on Polish plates that get driven '10/10ths' shall we say every time you see them regardless of mobile speed cameras, average speed cameras, ANPR and so on, yet there seems to be some loophole that allows this.
Pretty baffling tbh.
A Spanish idiot driving on the wrong side of the road hit my car. She stopped and gave details so, I have no issue there, what I do have an issue with is that my insurer literally couldn't be bothered with following through a claim with here Spanish insurer.
They said that I'd have to claim against my own policy and that excess was non-recoverable, as it's unlikely a claim could be processed with her insurer. Now, I'm not sure if this is just the idiotic workings of Hastings Insurance, or the general rule but if the latter, along with speeding and other such as you mention is essentially non-enforceable, then it's the public with cars registered in this country that have to pick up the costs, and I think that is wrong.
In the end, it was cheaper for me to pay cash for my repair and avoid the thieving b
ds at . I will be leaving them next month when I renew.
ETA
No names please.
They said that I'd have to claim against my own policy and that excess was non-recoverable, as it's unlikely a claim could be processed with her insurer. Now, I'm not sure if this is just the idiotic workings of Hastings Insurance, or the general rule but if the latter, along with speeding and other such as you mention is essentially non-enforceable, then it's the public with cars registered in this country that have to pick up the costs, and I think that is wrong.
In the end, it was cheaper for me to pay cash for my repair and avoid the thieving b
ds at . I will be leaving them next month when I renew.Edited by Swole on Monday 15th May 12:30
ETA
No names please.
Edited by Big Al. on Wednesday 17th May 09:26
Meanwhile, people are whinging like no tomorrow at this...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Two sides of the same coin.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Two sides of the same coin.
TooMany2cvs said:
Meanwhile, people are whinging like no tomorrow at this...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Two sides of the same coin.
I fully support that as long as it goes both ways. Long overdue in my opinion.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Two sides of the same coin.
Hainey said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Meanwhile, people are whinging like no tomorrow at this...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Two sides of the same coin.
I fully support that as long as it goes both ways. Long overdue in my opinion.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Two sides of the same coin.
I've just bought a motorbike off who used it for 12 years at his house in Spain. It was on UK plates the whole time he had it there.
We take the piss often as much as any other nationality when it comes to cars abroad.
All countries have the facilities to clamp down on this, but I guess it's just not a high priority.
We take the piss often as much as any other nationality when it comes to cars abroad.
All countries have the facilities to clamp down on this, but I guess it's just not a high priority.
I think Brits abroad take the piss as much if not more than people from the former communist countries keeping cars abroad without registering them, (Myself probably included using a uk registered car abroad for 6 months of the year) Any major resort in Spain, Greece, France etc the amount of UK plated cars is staggering.
The amount of UK plated cars exceeding limits by huge amounts around the main ferry ports is also very high, It seems unfair to think that we can do whatever we like whilst on the continent but slap people doing the same in reverse with huge penalties or take their cars off them.
This is down to the simple fact that UK RHD cars are around 50% cheaper than their LHD counterparts and often in far better condition with better specs and lower mileage.
I can't for the life of me see why anyone who moved to the UK from Poland would take a Polish plated car to the UK as they are nearly triple the price and in abysmal condition. (Insurance reasons possibly) Most of the people from PL we know who moved to the UK seemed delighted at the price of used cars in the UK and seemed to buy themselves cars pretty much straight away.
Theres a huge issue in these parts of the world with UK registered cars as we are the only country in the EU where number plates are "static" meaning you can have a plate without having insurance and an MOT. The rest of the EU countries require cars to be permanently insured otherwise the plates are confiscated (PL, CZ etc) or you have to update the stickers on the plates yearly (DE)
Without sounding racist I genuinely believe that drivers from certain Central and Eastern countries should be forced to take a driving test before driving abroad as many of them simply can't drive properly. My wife also highlighted that many Poles especially in the south "buy" driving licences from the Ukraine and then simply swap them for PL/EU licences.
The amount of UK plated cars exceeding limits by huge amounts around the main ferry ports is also very high, It seems unfair to think that we can do whatever we like whilst on the continent but slap people doing the same in reverse with huge penalties or take their cars off them.
This is down to the simple fact that UK RHD cars are around 50% cheaper than their LHD counterparts and often in far better condition with better specs and lower mileage.
I can't for the life of me see why anyone who moved to the UK from Poland would take a Polish plated car to the UK as they are nearly triple the price and in abysmal condition. (Insurance reasons possibly) Most of the people from PL we know who moved to the UK seemed delighted at the price of used cars in the UK and seemed to buy themselves cars pretty much straight away.
Theres a huge issue in these parts of the world with UK registered cars as we are the only country in the EU where number plates are "static" meaning you can have a plate without having insurance and an MOT. The rest of the EU countries require cars to be permanently insured otherwise the plates are confiscated (PL, CZ etc) or you have to update the stickers on the plates yearly (DE)
Without sounding racist I genuinely believe that drivers from certain Central and Eastern countries should be forced to take a driving test before driving abroad as many of them simply can't drive properly. My wife also highlighted that many Poles especially in the south "buy" driving licences from the Ukraine and then simply swap them for PL/EU licences.
CDB1983 said:
The rest of the EU countries require cars to be permanently insured otherwise the plates are confiscated (PL, CZ etc) or you have to update the stickers on the plates yearly (DE)
you don't have insurance stickers in DE, just the tüv test every two yearsif you cancel insurance they write to the registering authorities and cops or traffic wardens might seize your car
effectively you could run it in another country for 2 years, or longer if you got a fake tüv sticker
CDB1983 said:
Theres a huge issue in these parts of the world with UK registered cars as we are the only country in the EU where number plates are "static" meaning you can have a plate without having insurance and an MOT. The rest of the EU countries require cars to be permanently insured otherwise the plates are confiscated (PL, CZ etc) or you have to update the stickers on the plates yearly (DE)
Plates stay with cars for life in France and Italy, with nothing on the plate to indicate legitimacy. Probably others, too.mad4amanda said:
Just started noticing RHD cars like old Mercs and BMWs sporting Bulgarian or Romanian plates , presumably plates are bought here and swapped on to the chav chariot of choice without any paperwork?
Then they drive in the London CC zone,cross Dartford crossing,and accrue parking tickets go through speed cameras knowing they will never be charged or caught CDB1983 said:
I think Brits abroad take the piss as much if not more than people from the former communist countries keeping cars abroad without registering them, (Myself probably included using a uk registered car abroad for 6 months of the year) Any major resort in Spain, Greece, France etc the amount of UK plated cars is staggering.
The amount of UK plated cars exceeding limits by huge amounts around the main ferry ports is also very high, It seems unfair to think that we can do whatever we like whilst on the continent but slap people doing the same in reverse with huge penalties or take their cars off them.
.
You are of course correct, for me the issue is that the consequences for a British driver abroad are often worse than for a local, and still worse in the UK than for the foreign driver. Eg if a Brit is caught speeding in France they get marched to a cashpoint, licence confiscated, car confiscated etc by Judge Dredd-style gendarmes with no chance to appeal, yet reverse the situation and the foreign licenced speeder can get away with it.The amount of UK plated cars exceeding limits by huge amounts around the main ferry ports is also very high, It seems unfair to think that we can do whatever we like whilst on the continent but slap people doing the same in reverse with huge penalties or take their cars off them.
.
I understand the police have taken to on the spot credit card fines for HGV drivers though.
donkmeister said:
You are of course correct, for me the issue is that the consequences for a British driver abroad are often worse than for a local, and still worse in the UK than for the foreign driver. Eg if a Brit is caught speeding in France they get marched to a cashpoint, licence confiscated, car confiscated etc by Judge Dredd-style gendarmes with no chance to appeal, yet reverse the situation and the foreign licenced speeder can get away with it.
I understand the police have taken to on the spot credit card fines for HGV drivers though.
That is no one else's fault but our own.I understand the police have taken to on the spot credit card fines for HGV drivers though.
There is no reason at all why we aren't impounding foreign vehicles left, right and centre, and marching foreign motorists to cash points and making them withdraw £500 if they speed or have a bald tyre.
We just choose not to, for reasons that I cannot fathom.
It's not just speeding and tacho rules, it's parking too, I am lead to believe that any foreign registered car needs to be registered over here after a certain time span if it is here that long. I have been doing my current job 18 months, and in one particular town there is a foreign vehicle that has been on the same street since I started (apparently it was there long before that too), also in another town, we had a Seat Ibiza with a Polish plate, it was issued to plenty of times and we actually know where the driver lives, one day I rocked up and went to log it in as normal, and the reg was the same but the car was now a different colour and a Renault Clio. The police know its there, as we have complained about it, (as have other people in the street) and the other car in the same street (at the same flat), and they have even been out to it. But in excess of 20 parking tickets have been issued (various offences) and not one of them has been paid as the owner cannot be traced!
No.
A car doesn't get a certain amount of time here.
It's exactly the same as in other countries.
The person gets 6 months to get their car registered here. Then the car is fair game to be seized under Op Reclaim etc. And they do. Lots.
After the person has been here 6 months every car is illegal and can be seized if stopped. Unfortunately the number of officers able to do this is small, and falling.
A car doesn't get a certain amount of time here.
It's exactly the same as in other countries.
The person gets 6 months to get their car registered here. Then the car is fair game to be seized under Op Reclaim etc. And they do. Lots.
After the person has been here 6 months every car is illegal and can be seized if stopped. Unfortunately the number of officers able to do this is small, and falling.
davemac250 said:
No.
A car doesn't get a certain amount of time here.
It's exactly the same as in other countries.
The person gets 6 months to get their car registered here. Then the car is fair game to be seized under Op Reclaim etc. And they do. Lots.
After the person has been here 6 months every car is illegal and can be seized if stopped. Unfortunately the number of officers able to do this is small, and falling.
And that's if the person isn't resident here. If the person is resident, then the car has to be registered...A car doesn't get a certain amount of time here.
It's exactly the same as in other countries.
The person gets 6 months to get their car registered here. Then the car is fair game to be seized under Op Reclaim etc. And they do. Lots.
After the person has been here 6 months every car is illegal and can be seized if stopped. Unfortunately the number of officers able to do this is small, and falling.
MXRod said:
mad4amanda said:
Just started noticing RHD cars like old Mercs and BMWs sporting Bulgarian or Romanian plates , presumably plates are bought here and swapped on to the chav chariot of choice without any paperwork?
Then they drive in the London CC zone,cross Dartford crossing,and accrue parking tickets go through speed cameras knowing they will never be charged or caught For example I regularly see a couple of residents on our nearest itinerant metal traders campsite driving about in RHD dropside Transits, but one is on French plates, the other on Romanian. Certainly one of the drivers is as Oirish as they come, at least judging by the accent. Been like this for a year now.
As shady as f---, if I can spot this why can the powers that be not see it.
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