Safe Speed Forums

is this not the same as having to prove your Innocence, and as such null and void under English law?

just a thought

I'm beginning to suspect (by the quality of the posts) that you may be The J.Prescott.

Mike.

Before the need for SORN, if you were caught using an untaxed vehicle on the road then the worst the police could do was to report you to the local council as it is only a civil offence.

Since SORN, if you are caught using a SORN'd vehicle on the road you are then committing an offence for which the old bill can take action (although I'm not sure what the specific offence is).

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

I have a great deal of sympathy here......

It's NOT a level playing field for all, I know. During my life I have been at both ends of this scale.

When I was young we lived in a terraced house, no garage or anything. My car was obviously kept on the road in front of the house.

Later, I had 2 cars, one for work (the old one) and a "new...ish" one for best. Both parked in front of the house. Now that was fine: UNTIL!

My old car failed it's MOT and needed some work before I could re-tax it. I therefore had to use my other car for work.

One quiet Sunday morning, a "Police" officer was showing around a "newbie recruit" around our quiet villige.........Mmmmh!

Saw the car and "pounced!"................





Now, I WASN't using it!................... A few doors away a neighbour had TWO skips! outside in the roadway whilst doing some building work! And THEY sure as Hell didn't have a road tax disc!......

These days, I can park ten cars easy, off road and they can't do a thing about it. So, I've seen both sides. IT'S UNFAIR!.........

Just another way of making car ownership more expensive and taxing or fining the life out of us.

It's "Illegal Usage" that's the problem...........not ownership.

Not a Police matter,as my local beat bloke told me some time ago - "it's a matter for DVLA"---posssibly fine is bigger if used (on road whilst SORN'd) .(Now DVLA tell me that Police or Traffic Wardens can report untaxed vehicles -so go figure )
Don't know if the other offence of not displaying still applies if vehicle SORN'd, and that (AFAIK was a police matter)
Whole thing looks like a minefield (untill a ANPR vehicle is sent out )

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

You don't have to be using it to require tax, just 'keeping it on the road'



Even if you've registered SORN you need it to be on private land. Hence the 'off road' in Statutory Off Road Notification.

Mike.

The reason is that the DVLA doesn't need to tie up Magistrates' Court time. It doesn't have to prove an offence beyond reasonable doubt. It is an administrative offence dealt with by a fine - in a similar manner to decriminalised parking - and chased via the county court system for non-payment.

Also, the DVLA will add in all the back tax as well as the penalty.