Sorry to disappoint some that may have thought they'd be in for an opportunity to roast someone for braeaking the law, but the car WAS /IS in fact taxed.

Had to wake up and tax the Fabia yesterday from its usual 6 month winter rest, due to a poxy 2 year old Vauhall van glow plugs failure that might be taking quite some toime to fix apparently.

Anyway,stopped today for seemingly having no road tax, according to the on board cop car ANPR system.

Seems that the records haven't been updated by DVLA yet, and according to the rozzer that stopped me, it can take UP to 4 weeks! :no:

Now I don't know if this is because it's been SORN'd for the last 4 months or just plain sloathness on behalf of the DVLA, but I'm half expecting to get 'pulled' again now.

Absolutely unbelievable, and the rozzer didn't look too pleased when I produced the valid disc from the windscreen and gloatingly waved it him.

He apologised and departed.

He apologised and departed.

Holy cow !

A policeman actually apologised to you - considered yourself honoured !

It would appear that many of the databases which the police rely upon are not regularly updated by the people who supply the info, yet the police seem to take the info on them as gospel. Not had an issue myself but it is scary that due to delays in updating a database you could have ypur car seized or get harassed by the police.

That said they need to keep stopping people with no tax/insurance/mot as they are costing the rest of us a lot of money.

It would appear that many of the databases which the police rely upon are not regularly updated by the people who supply the info, yet the police seem to take the info on them as gospel. Not had an issue myself but it is scary that due to delays in updating a database you could have ypur car seized or get harassed by the police.

That said they need to keep stopping people with no tax/insurance/mot as they are costing the rest of us a lot of money.

Did hear of a dreadful case a few years ago on the Welsh border, just 5 miles from here.

A young girl was stopped 'cus the anpr claimed she wasn't insured. She protested her innocence vhenemently, but for reasons and full facts that I'm not privvy to, the good ole Heddlu wouldn't have any of it, and promptly confiscated her car on the spot, leaving her stranded on the side of the road.

She proved her innocence soon after apparently. Don't know what the final outcome was unfortunately, but I bet she still had to pay for the retrival of her car.

There was quite an uproar about it iirc

Did hear of a dreadful case a few years ago on the Welsh border, just 5 miles from here.

A young girl was stopped 'cus the anpr claimed she wasn't insured. She protested her innocence vhenemently, but for reasons and full facts that I'm not privvy to, the good ole Heddlu wouldn't have any of it, and promptly confiscated her car on the spot, leaving her stranded on the side of the road.

She proved her innocence soon after apparently. Don't know what the final outcome was unfortunately, but I bet she still had to pay for the retrival of her car.

There was quite an uproar about it iirc

If you prove you had insurrance at the time of seizure the police pay all the costs for recovery and storage. There is no costs for return anyhow.

So, you put your Fabia vRS away for the winter? Like someone who drives a Lotus or TVR might? :think:

So, you put your Fabia vRS away for the winter? Like someone who drives a Lotus or TVR might? :think:

Usually now, yes. Why? Do we have an issue with this?

I have access to 3 vehicles, and generally use the van for the mostly local running around in the winter, and come the summer when I'm out and about a bit more, the 'fun' car comes out.

Keeps the milage down, and reduces the road tax effectively too.

The Fabia doesn't get put away and wrapped up in a heated blanket. It sits on the path and is started up and washed and polished regulary.

I intend keeping it for the long term, as I've yet to see a replacement that can do and offer what the vRS does for me.

It was an absolute pleasure to drive it again this week, and still puts a smile on my face after 6 years of ownership.

Usually off the road for 4 or 5 months, sorn'd.

Edited 4 February, 201214 yr by Mr Ree

Just seems a bit odd a normal, every day to get treated in this way, that's all

Just seems a bit odd a normal, every day to get treated in this way, that's all

Don't see what you mean by "odd to be treated this way tbh, but hey ho, whatever you say I suppose. :S

If it was the only vehicle I had access to, well fair ebough, but even I can't drive two at once.

I was stopped once for no insurence and they were going to take car off me, it was on one of them tempory insurence things and i had docs in car but they hadn't printed right and i had to phone a friend and get him to log onto my email and reprint the docs again and then fetch them to me before he would let me go,

Did hear of a dreadful case a few years ago on the Welsh border, just 5 miles from here.

A young girl was stopped 'cus the anpr claimed she wasn't insured. She protested her innocence vhenemently, but for reasons and full facts that I'm not privvy to, the good ole Heddlu wouldn't have any of it, and promptly confiscated her car on the spot, leaving her stranded on the side of the road.

She proved her innocence soon after apparently. Don't know what the final outcome was unfortunately, but I bet she still had to pay for the retrival of her car.

There was quite an uproar about it iirc

Not surprised there was an uproar.

The guidance for cops in my experience is that even if they are 99.99% sure that the vehicle is without legit docs/insurance, if the driver denies any offences don't seize the vehicle (by all means threaten it though, the punter may just cough to the offences after all!). For the simple reason that if a cop seizes a car which later turns out to totally legit, the Police forces' legal dept. will have a cow.

The police database is only as good as the quality of the data the DVLA feed into it and how expediently they input that data. DVLA, quality and expediency - three words which tend not to go together in my experience!

Even with the problems of DVLA and Insurers updating the databases they still provide the police with valuable information which enables them to catch the uninsured and illegal drivers. Yes it is unfortunate that legal drivers can get caught out by it but to be honest I like the fact the police can check up on people rather than have to rely on just seeing a paper copy of a certificate which could be out of date.

If they are in the situatiuon of leaving a vulnerable person in a potentially dangerous situation then I'm sure most coppers would show some common sense.

.

Edited 18 May, 201214 yr by Tim31

They can phone the insurance company too to double check. That's if the silly woman could remember who she'd insured with! lol

Phil

I've had this before, been stopped for not having insurance (a couple of days after changing Insurer).

I was polite to the officer, told him my insurer, he phoned, confirmed my insurance, apologised, and we both got on our way.

I didn't have any issues, i'd much rather have 2 minutes inconvenience, than get hit by an uninsured drive, and end up being out of pocket.

They can phone the insurance company too to double check. That's if the silly woman could remember who she'd insured with! lol

Phil

They ring MID and that's if they are open but they also update the database, very few insurrance companies will release details over the phone to the police, they normally an email.

Edited 6 February, 201214 yr by mdon

They ring MID and that's if they are open but they also update the database, very few insurrance companies will release details over the phone to the police, they normally an email.

And so then it should surely fall back to "innocent until proven guilty" not the other way round.

If they can get all your details at the time then give you the benefit of the doubt and a producer notice I don't see anything wrong. Then if you can't prove you are insured etc then you get prosecuted.

Phil

And so then it should surely fall back to "innocent until proven guilty" not the other way round.

If they can get all your details at the time then give you the benefit of the doubt and a producer notice I don't see anything wrong. Then if you can't prove you are insured etc then you get prosecuted.

Phil

Don't forget that technically it is still an offence for you not to produce your insurance certificate, drivers licence and MOT certificate (if applicable) at the road side.

Don't forget that technically it is still an offence for you not to produce your insurance certificate, drivers licence and MOT certificate (if applicable) at the road side.

Under what legislation?

Under what legislation?

It's in the Road Traffic Act: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/contents#pt7-pb1-l1g164

Sections 164 and 165 if you're interested

It used to be that you'd be given a producer which gave you 7 days grace to present the documents at a police station, although these days this is rarer and more reliance is placed on the police national computer database.

Chris

My friend taxed his car and within a 2 week period got pulled over 3 times about the supposed lack of tax.

Updating of computer does seem like an issue, but he just showed them the disc and they all apologised and left. Prefer them to find cars that aren't legal than do nothing tbf.

My friend taxed his car and within a 2 week period got pulled over 3 times about the supposed lack of tax.

Updating of computer does seem like an issue, but he just showed them the disc and they all apologised and left. Prefer them to find cars that aren't legal than do nothing tbf.

Spmeone has suggested taxing on line to prevent this issue. Don't know if it works though. Any one any ideas?

Pretty sure you can't do it if it's been sorn'd.

I'm pretty sure he DID tax it online, but it still wasn't updated in the database! Not 100% on that though. I tend to still go to the post office as i get it in my hand there and then.

I'm pretty sure he DID tax it online, but it still wasn't updated in the database! Not 100% on that though. I tend to still go to the post office as i get it in my hand there and then.

Same here. Try to do as little as poss online as i don't trust any of these organisations to NOT pass your info on. The less they all know about you the better imo, and that goes for online banking etc too.

Besides, i want to help keep my local P.O. in business.

Can you believe it.

My daughter was stopped today, and she's only been driving on her own for 3 days!

Fortunately, I was in my van in front of her, and saw the whole thing unfolding in my mirror.

Given her the use of a Saxo that I purchased last October, and after finally getting a half decent quote for insurance for her, I taxed it 12 days ago, put a fresh mot on it, and insured it last Saturday.

Saw the plod driving towards us this morning as we were driving to my mates garage to have new anti roll bar bushes fitted and wondered if he'd picked up an alert for no tax again like last time, or even worse, no insurance.

Sure enough, looked in the mirror, and he'd put his blues on and came charging down after my daughter all dramatic with lights blazing and sirens blaring, everyone dramtically swerving into the kerbside to let him past.

Talk about completely OTT!

I indicated to my daughter to pull over which she did, went up to her and told her to stay calm 'cus she looked absolutely petrified.

Cocky ypung cop gets out and I ask" which one tthis time then" to which he told me to take that aggresive tone out of my voice.

Explained what had happened a few weeks ago, and he told me to complain to the DVLA if I wasn't happy.

I told him to tell his gaffer to, as they should be liasing with the DVLA not me.

Wouldn't have it and he looked annoyed that he couldn't nail me for anything.

Asked was all the overly dramatic blues and twos and racing down after her really that necessary too.

Never got a reply to that one as he was suddenly called onto an RTA.

No apology, no courtesy. Not impressed...AT ALL...AGAIN.