DVLA Operation in Sainsburys Car Park

[Raddors]

Hub said:

I'm surprised that Sainsburys would be happy about that, as it would put some people off from visiting, and clamped cars will take up parking spaces or even become abandoned for some time!

Conversely it makes me want to go to Sainsburys even more. Good on them, Im not saying there's a direct link, but the standard of parking has always been atrocious there.

[SavanP]

Great idea by the police. I wish they did this more often as it's pretty much the most efficient way of catching illegal cars/drivers!

[TTmonkey]

ED209 said:

Sainsburys car park = private land. Not sure how the DVLA can do this.

Sorry but thats just rubbish. Unless those cars were all declared SORN then they were illegal. It would likely have been handeled by VOSA anyway.

[Agrispeed]

If the public can gain access = normal rules apply
even gates that are closed but not locked are a gray area.

Surely this operation will also re-enforce sainsbury's image as a middle class high quality outlet, rather than how asda, for instance is seen. therefore, improving their image, and allowing them to price higher/get more shoppers?

cynical, me?

[ajf]

Bet you any money is was not Dvla but a private company

[StealthSteve]

ED209 said:

redgriff500 said:

ED209 said:

Sainsburys car park = private land. Not sure how the DVLA can do this.

I don't think it works like that, similar to how you can be prosecuted for drink driving / without due care etc I believe it extends to any land the public have access to.

When it's done around here they pull people on the road and direct them into car parks to deal with them - presumably with the CP owners consent.

Nope its different, unless the car park is maintained at the public expense no tax is required.

They always use the "it's publically accessible land" line but realistically they are trespassing (as you are) if they direct you onto a person's or corporation's land to have a chat.

As for the ANPR car, saw one going round every lane of my Local ASDA about a year ago, it was some top spec Audi with big dopey camera's mounted on the roof pointing sideways so it can get both sides of the aisles as it does one sweep of a section. Didn't stop anyone though or clamp anything; driver just fiddled with a notebook before he left the carpark and drove off for good.

[Raddors]

I had a scout round just now after a quick shop. Unfortunately nothing going on now, so I cant shed any light on the questions asked. When the OH gets home from work I will quiz her further, but unfortunately she prob wont be able to tell her DVLA from her VOSA from her private clamping scam companies. Hi-vis jackets all look the same to her.

If it happens again I will spread the word on a local forum, (is Oxford in the Thames Valley region forum?? Or if not where?) I will bring the popcorn and we can have a bloody good laugh!

[Ninjaboy]

I don't justify driving without tax but, but i can understand it. The way the tax has risen in recent years in scandalous. Two cars idenical cars two months apart age wise can vary in hundereds of pounds. At what point does the government become criminal/robbing bds. one day tax might be £1000 should we all just keep paying? I always have taxed vehicles but it's a servere rip off.

[martin84]

Ninjaboy said:

I don't justify driving without tax but, but i can understand it. The way the tax has risen in recent years in scandalous. Two cars idenical cars two months apart age wise can vary in hundereds of pounds. At what point does the government become criminal/robbing bds. one day tax might be £1000 should we all just keep paying? I always have taxed vehicles but it's a servere rip off.

Check out the car tax rates in Ireland and you'll be thankful for the rates we pay here.

[Genelec]

I'm pretty sure for the land to be really and truly private it has to be gated. Seem to remember one of those police camera action type things pulling people who were using a dirt track to drive back from pub.

But then basing my knowledge on a TV show probably isn't the best idea....

[Art0ir]

ED209 said:

Sainsburys car park = private land. Not sure how the DVLA can do this.

Try telling that to all the guys that lost their licenses drifting around these car parks..

[Skodaku]

ED209 said:

Nope its different, unless the car park is maintained at the public expense no tax is required.

I thought all cars had to either SORN + Insured or taxed + Insured regardless of where they may be; on the road, Sainsburys or your driveway.

Well done the DVLA, for once.

[SavanP]

Skodaku said:

I thought all cars had to either SORN + Insured or taxed + Insured regardless of where they may be; on the road, Sainsburys or your driveway.

Well done the DVLA, for once.

Plus they have to of got to the car park using public roads!

[matlee]

Im currently working on a Sainsbury refurb in Hereford and have seen this a few times over the last month or so. At one point the guy was writing out paperwork to take my car next as he couldnt see my tax disc. I caught him just in time and produced the disc which had fallen onto the floor. This got me thinking that surely they would have access to a database showing which cars have and dont have tax rather than just taking cars which havent got the disc displayed or am i completely off the mark?

[matlee]

ajf said:

Bet you any money is was not Dvla but a private company

The ones ive witnessed have all been private companies.

[Raddors]

matlee said:

ajf said:

Bet you any money is was not Dvla but a private company

The ones ive witnessed have all been private companies.

Apparently not, the OH insists it was a DVLA van, logo etc on the van and DVLA hi vis everywhere.

[kwk]

matlee said:

Im currently working on a Sainsbury refurb in Hereford and have seen this a few times over the last month or so. At one point the guy was writing out paperwork to take my car next as he couldnt see my tax disc. I caught him just in time and produced the disc which had fallen onto the floor. This got me thinking that surely they would have access to a database showing which cars have and dont have tax rather than just taking cars which havent got the disc displayed or am i completely off the mark?

They do have a database to check and, if the car is shown as taxed, they will not get permission to lift it.
It is not actually DVLA staff who do the clamping it is their contractors who are presentiy CAPITA.

[CoolHands]

so is it an offense to be parked in a Sainsbury carpark with a sorned car? Surely they have to prove you drove it on a public road to get there? (you could have had it delivered by a transporter for all they know)

[PoleDriver]

Sainsbury's car park is a public place, as has been mentioned above!

[BFG TERRANO]

matlee said:

Im currently working on a Sainsbury refurb in Hereford and have seen this a few times over the last month or so. At one point the guy was writing out paperwork to take my car next as he couldnt see my tax disc. I caught him just in time and produced the disc which had fallen onto the floor. This got me thinking that surely they would have access to a database showing which cars have and dont have tax rather than just taking cars which havent got the disc displayed or am i completely off the mark?

they know if your taxed or not, the offence of "failure to display" still stands.