Fine for not displaying valid tax disc- advice?

[ladybird185]

I received a fine this morning for not displaying a valid tax disc. My tax ran out last month and I renewed it online (a week later than I should have, but payment was backdated).

 

I didn't receive the new tax disc in the post in the 2 weeks after I renewed, unfortunately I have since moved address and honestly the fact I hadn't got the tax disc completely slipped my mind, what with the stresses of moving to a new area and starting a new job.

 

I fully accept that I wasn't displaying a tax disc and so probably should have got the fine, but I was wondering if anyone else has had similar circumstances and contested it?

 

I should have had the tax disc in the post within 5 days but they didn't send it, and I haven't had anything re-directed in the post- so possibility they never sent it, or it got lost in the post, or have I left it too late to go down that route?

 

Thanks for your help!

[renegadeimp]

You should have a covering letter in your email if you had renewed it online. This covers you until the tax disc arrives, at which time the covering letter is no longer valid.

[nohope]

I'd double check the covering letter bit, as far as i can tell from there site they give you either 5 or 7 days (can't remember which one) grace then if the tax disc has not turned up your ment to ring them.

If you don't ring them after how ever many days and your tax disc has not turned up then you get a fine if stopped.

 

Think if you ring at the time given they chase up the tax disc and give you an extension of time to carry on driving without displaying the disc.

[nohope]

This is what i was looking for...

 

 

there’s now an exemption for not displaying a tax disc. This exemption covers the first five working days of the month to allow time for the new disc to arrive in the post. While you are still waiting for your tax disc you will need to display your current tax disc. The exemption only applies if applications are made before the current tax disc or SORN expires.

[Raykay]

Unfortunately that won't help the OP, the 5 working days grace only applies if the licence is applied for before the old licence or SORN expires.

 

Failure to display is usually a Fixed Penalty, to contest a fixed penalty would be a magistrate's court case.

[nohope]

That's what I was getting at. If its applied for after the current disc has run out then the op has no grounds to contest the fine.

[dw190]

The OP makes no mention of who has issued the fine. If its the police, its a fair cop, but if its be sent from DVLA its a different kettle of fish.

[Tony P]

Generally and not a specific response to the OP -

 

Yet again, another example of what a complete mess otherwise straightforward arrangements have become because of burocrats with vested intersts (DVLA's money making objectives) advising the Lawmakers of 'need' to amend past rules then getting busy enforcing Out of Court Settlements to bolster up their ailing budgets depleted by their own inefficiency.

 

Rules previously working to most peoples' reasonable understanding should remain unless there are very compelling reasons to amend - and surreptitious cash gathering by a Government Agency is not one.

Edited July 24, 2012 by Tony P

[Raykay]

The OP makes no mention of who has issued the fine. If its the police, its a fair cop, but if its be sent from DVLA its a different kettle of fish.

 

It won't be DVLA, it will be someone who actually saw that no licence was displayed.

[Tony P]

It won't be DVLA, it will be someone who actually saw that no licence was displayed.

 

Most likely, but in theory it still could have been DVLA through one of their roving clamping unit who, on seeing it (or rather not seeing it), checked their database and couldn't clamp as it was telling them the vehicle had been issued with a valid VEL.

[sailor sam]

Or it could of been someone like me who reports cars with no/expired tax discs on line to the DVLA. I've reported a car 5 times now in as many months which parks in my street. Disc expired end of Feb. It amazes me that we get cases like this where people get jumped on after a couple of days after their tax has expired, when this one i've been reporting seems to be enjoying almost 6 months of tax free motoring!

[Tony P]

Sam, would a fine for failure to display come just on the 'say so' of an unsubstantiated report from a member of the public?

That might be the initial trigger, but surely some stronger evidence would be required.

[Raykay]

Failure to display is normally a police matter - they take the action for failing to display (FPN or summons), and notify DVLA who may take follow up action if the vehicle has no licence.

[sailor sam]

Sam, would a fine for failure to display come just on the 'say so' of an unsubstantiated report from a member of the public?

That might be the initial trigger, but surely some stronger evidence would be required.

 

Well they provide the facility for reporting 'untaxed' vehicles so one would assume they act upon information received. This particular car is untaxed as I have checked it's status online via the DVLA's vehicle enquiry facility. I have also mentioned it to our local bobby who tells me 'it's a DVLA matter'. They only seem to be interested if the vehicle is un-insured but of course there is no legitimate way of me checking that...

[sailor sam]

Failure to display is normally a police matter - they take the action for failing to display (FPN or summons), and notify DVLA who may take follow up action if the vehicle has no licence.

 

I thought so too Ray, but not according to the police themselves.

[Raykay]

It's a DVLA matter if the vehicle is not licensed, if the police don't want to take action in respect of the failure to display I suppose that is up to the individual officer.