Two days, two fines for no Road Tax

Felippe

Hi guys,

in February, I flew for 10 days for holidays and when I came back, I found a red notice on the windscreen and later received a letter from DVLA saying that I didn't have a valid tax disc on 24th of February.

Now, I don't blame them for that as it was my fault and I admit it, as I forgot to renew the tax disc. Therefore, I paid the fine (£54) and got a new tax disc straight away.

Now, a few months later I received another letter for another fine, for the same offense. However, it was for the 25th Feb, which is the day after the one the previous fine was for (while I was still away).

So, to sum it all up:

1. no tax disc for February (I forgot, my fault)
2. Went on holidays from 20 Feb till 02 March
3. I received a fine for vehicle being seen untaxed on 24 Feb
4. paid the fine and got the tax disc straight away
5. received letter that the car was seen untaxed on 25 Feb

Now, I called the DVLA, they asked me to write a letter if I wanted to. I sent them a letter explaining my situation and attached the flight confirmation with dates.

However, I received a letter, that I still have to pay the fine as "the law requires that any motor vehicle that is used or kept must be licensed".

It seem unfair that they can give me two fines in two consequential days, while I have no chance of taking any action. I could have received 12 fines for every day I was away. This doesn't make sense.

What do you think? should I pay the fine, or do I have any other reasonable options?

Thank you

bevvy

Don't think it's really got anything to do with being away on holiday or not, you never left until the 20th (20 days overdue by then) and never paid any tax for Feb, face it you got caught out, pay up. If you hadn't received the notice/fine would you still be driving about untaxed. Looks to me that you were trying to pull a fast one and you got caught. :rotfl:

Felippe

bevvy wrote: »

Looks to me that you were trying to pull a fast one and you got caught. :rotfl:

To be honest, I would never try that. the reason is that I moved house recently and I forgot to change my address. Therefore I did not receive the reminder and forgot about it. This could happen to anybody. I don't think you bear in mind all the time, when your tax disc is about to run out.

Does it seem fair that you can get 30 fines a month (£1620) while you cannot do anything about it?

elvch01

If the car had not been moved in between while, I would have thought you could argue that you were still commiting the one offence.

clareyocs

Be lucky you didn't get a fine for every day it was untaxed!
and i think it is fair that you can be fined for each day of the month otherwise it would not do anything to reduce un taxed motors on the road!
I wouldn't moan Just pay it as you did wrong and you clearly are aware you did!
Was it fair you didn't pay your tax ?

MX5huggy

Not intrested in the holiday issue myself. But there is the pricipal of double jepody so then it depends on exactly what the fine was for on each day.

I would go over to http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php? where you will get a more simpathetic hearing or atleast more solid advice than the hang and flog lot on here.

Felippe

elvch01 wrote: »

If the car had not been moved in between while, I would have thought you could argue that you were still commiting the one offence.

The car has not been moved. But I sent them a letter with evidence and they did not accept it. Is there any other way?

LandyAndy

I would have thought that you have committed one offence, that of keeping an untaxed vehcle on the public road, and that the offence was committed for the period from 1 Feb to the point where you taxed it.

There should be two elements to the penalty, a fixed one for the offence of keeping on the road etc. and a variable one relating to the amount of tax evaded, in this case one month's worth (assuming you retaxed from 1 March)

advantix

Were they both for not having a valid tax disc or for not displaying a valid tax disc. They are seperate offences and both are absolute offences.

Mark_Hewitt

Surely it's just one offence. The passing of the day doesn't make any difference.

Lets say a police officer came along the street and gave you a ticket for no tax, then walked around the block and gave you a ticket again for no tax, and then repeated it 100 times, would that be reasonble too?

Felippe

advantix wrote: »

Were they both for not having a valid tax disc or for not displaying a valid tax disc. They are seperate offences and both are absolute offences.

It says:
"Vehicle had been seen unlicensed"

I do not have the original letter, as I had to send it back with the enquiry, but I'm sure the reason for the fine is the same.

btw, they cannot give me two offenses, one for not having a tax disc and the second one for not displaying the tax disc that I don't have anyway.

What would you recommend me to do about it? It seems that it is the same offense just for two days.