Safe Speed Forums

I got stopped today by the police, the first time in donkey's years. I drove my car without tax.

I honestly and genuinely didn't realise it had expired. I moved house recently and the reminder didn't get forwarded to me. I confess, I don't look at my tax disc from one month to another and rely on that notification. I cycle to work, (where I use the pool cars), and have been using my motorbike on nice days. If I do go out I'm usually with my girfreind and we use her car so mine can, and does, sit on my driveway sometimes for weeks on end, or longer.

So anyway, I'm off to B&Q and I see a police biker sitting in a driveway, who obviously had an ANPR, and think nothing of it but about a mile away he catches up behind me with the blues going My first thought was to look at my speed; no problem there. The reason I post is what happened next...

He asked me to follow him to a place where there's about a dozen officers and cars etc. in a pub car park where they were going to deal with me. My car was towed off and impounded even though I was told since this notification I have 14 days grace to get it sorted. I couldn't pay there and then and had to find my way home, get all my documents and hot-foot it down to the impounding place and pay £100 to retrieve it.

The thing which really got me is when he started with the "Anything you say which you may rely on in court later..." or however it goes? WTF is that about? It's not endorsable and I'm not a crimminal but I sure as hell felt like one!

I should just say the police were absolutely great and I was in the wrong, no argument there! I deserved to get stung. They were all very professional and nice and just following procedure so I'm not shooting the messengers but OMG! In fact I thanked them and chatted to the biker cop who pulled me up and waved to him when I left the scene to say 'no hard feelings' with a smile on my embarrassed face. I lost 5 hours of the day because of this

Just thought I'd let you know what you're in for if it ever happens to you.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

If you moved house you need to give your new details to the DVLA otherwise you'll be committing another offence. And your driving licence will be wrong too.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I know Peter. I was told today, by the nice girl at the impounding place, it's a £2000 fine for not changing your licence. I've done the log books though. Awe come on - when you move house it's on a par with divorce, bereavement...

I can see I'm not going to get any sympathy here Hec, I've admitted I was wrong. What more do you want

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Maybe you will. I think that impounding your car for what is. in effect, failure to pay a bill is way over the top. It is not as if being untaxed renders the vehicle unsafe or uninsured. Impounding your vehicle is an arbitrary punishment executed without due process.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

That's how I see it; completely OTT

Would they have done the same if I had a disability I wonder? I had to find a way to get back home before getting to the place to retrieve my car. Luckily, I was fit enough to leg-it back home and then cycle to a post office to get my road tax and then onto the impound place. Who here could do that though? (I'm excluding you ed, on your Specialized )

I just don't see why in this modern day and age I couldn't have just paid on the spot and drive off with my tail between my legs. I understand they wouldn't want to carry cash but what's the problem with carrying one of those portable machines which take debit cards? What if I'd had a pressing appointment or something? BTW, if I didn't get it all done on the day the penalty goes up to £150 after 24 hours.

I just get the feeling, once again, that the motorist is a soft target. I know cases of theft, buglary and and a whole raft of other offences where they are not fined as much or inconvenienced like I was. Like I say, I held my hands up to the crime. It's a fair cop and the police were just doing their job. But does any punishment fit the crime these days?

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

When did the Tax run out Big Tone?

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

Er, well, er.. it, er kinda run out a few months ago I can't remember the exact month because he said "I'll have to take it out of the windscreen".

But like I said in my OP, it was a genuine mistake; I honestly wasn't trying to pull a fast one. When the traf pol pointed at my disk I looked like an idiot in disbelief I was like Stan Laurel when he takes a second look at something.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

I know this is not very friendly but if your tax ran out several months ago then you probably got a reasonable punishment. If it ran out at the end of Jun 09 then maybe it was a bit harsh.

You really should know these things as a responsible motorist. You should not just check your tyres and oil each week.

However, I salute your honesty in posting about this on here.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

If it was a few months I guess it was a 'fair cop' then, I would hope that if it had only run out last month they might not have seized the car given it was insured, MOT'd etc. My commiserations anyway!

I got caught once many years ago, I paid for and picked up bike on a Saturday evening and then rode it home on Sunday, after spending the night at my student flat, with the intention of taxing it on Monday morning. I got pulled about 20 miles from home, fortunately I had insured it before picking it up and had the cover note and log book on me so all I got was a warning to expect a fine and sent on my way. I could not be bothered to wait until Monday to tax it before going home so it was my fault if rather unlucky getting caught.

Times have changed, still if we were using Abercrombie's punishment formula they probably would have crushed the car with you in it.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

Were you made to pay the tax for the period when it was untaxed or did the disc you bought start at July 1st?

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Bit of a pain that aye Tone? I'd suggest that they impound cars because, as a general rule, the people that don't tax their cars are the sort that have no other documents and when they do get stopped they don't pay up anyway. So by impounding and probably crushing the car, at least they can't drive it.

As a normally law abiding citizen, you had a bit of an oversight, which is understandable after a move, it's cost you a few quid and a bit of mither, but I'll wager you never forget again .

There but for the grace of god go I, I say

It's always a good thing to check the tax is valid whenever you go out.....even if you know it is.....
I wonder if the 80 quid penalty for keeping an untaxed vehicle that has not been sorned will follow ?
Oh, and many disabled people either get their car through the motability scheme, or are exempt from road tax.

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The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

It was out of character for me. I am usually the most organised man on earth but when you're moving house your world is upside down for a long time after. I've still got unopened boxes and feel it's a constant cycle of: work, get home to cook/clean, go to bed, work...

I know it's still no excuse and like I say, I deserved to get stung. My only gripe is with the procedure. When I said I couldn't pay there-and-then I meant they wouldn't allow it. I had my wallet and a means of payment but the procedure is to take it to the impound for some reason.

Oh well, a lesson learnt the hard way At least the people here who don't like me can have a laugh at my expense

At one point, while two police were with me, I tried to crack a funny. I said "It's a good job he didn't breathalise me, I'm over the limit too". After an initial death stare from both of them they realised I was kidding The one said "Well, we've had one this morning at 11:00 who was drunk". (Note to self: Don't joke about drinking and driving to police).

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Well, interestingly enough I happened to ask the girl at the impound place if she's getting lots more drivers avoiding road tax because of the recession and her answer quite surprised me. She said they get a lot of people from abroad who come to this country and think they can just get a car and drive without insurance or licence or anything! Blommin' foreigners

Well, I'm all legal so I may as well try and get to B&Q again...

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

But its quick, cheap and avoids the necessity of going to court where somebody would listen to ALL the facts before deciding what punishment, if any, is appropriate.

Just recently bouncers, sorry Door Supervisors, have been given on the spot fine powers. They are the latest addition to a list which already includes Headteachers, dog wardens, street wardens and housing officers. All of whom have the power to fine you with no need to refer to an independent judicial body and no power to check your criminal record. All of which means some people who only merit a warning get a fine and some who merit a much bigger penalty get away with a fine.

At time of posting just over half of all penalties for breaking the law are imposed with no reference whatsoever to a member of the judiciary. That percentage will go up and the percentage of people getting justice will go down.

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I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.

At time of appointment police officers and magistrates are tested for the presence of a sense of humour. If one is found, it is surgically removed.

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I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.

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A horrendous thought!

Whilst there may be some good ones out there they are totally unsuitable.
My 65 year old asmatic father in law got a horrendous black eye from one in Southampton.
One has just been jailed for breaking someones spine throwing him out of a club and posting his punch ups on youtube. One was titled "bitchslap"
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4500164 ... g_student/

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

Great! I like throwing my weight around and generally being bossy. I'll apply to become one of these "authorised persons". It's just what I've been looking for to get back at people I don't like. I'll easily fool the licensing authorities by lying about my motives. Thanks for letting me know.

Justice, huh!

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

It appears my comment that door supervisors and others have no power to check your criminal record is not entirely correct. I am reliably informed that some of these groups of people do actually have access to the PNC. They are supposed to check for a record and, if you have one, inform police about your actions rather than impose a fine. I am not sure which is worse - wannabees who are not good enough to be a PCSO imposing fines without checking up on you first or those same people having access to the PNC.

I am grateful to the magistrate colleague who rang me up to correct my error and more than a bit surprised as the information I posted came from a police officer who teaches door supervisors about when a fine is appropriate.

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I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.