Tax disc fine after paid, but DVLA website allows for 14 days??

Stephen_Leak

I,_Brian wrote: »

<snip> I've just been taxed twice.

Welcome to coalition Britain.

TrickyWicky

HO87 wrote: »

Thanks !!!!!!. The so-called universal 14-day "grace period" is a myth. There were and continue to be a number of local arrangements but its not universal.

Just to expand on that, when I was a CEO we didn't report untaxed vehicles that were less than 14 days out of date either. DVLA simply were not interested for some reason.

It's very odd how they'll bust some people and not others. I wonder if they'd reveal their process for decision making by a FOI request?

give_them_FA

I,_Brian wrote: »

It was a police FPN, and when you renew your car tax, so far as I understand it, the renewal date carries on from the previous expiry date only.

What I was getting at Brian, was- had you already applied for your new disc BEFORE the FPN was issued; or did you apply afterwards? If the former there's a slight chance of a sympathetic hearing.

Unfortunately the 14 day grace period IS a myth, though a widely held belief, and not helped by the inconsistent enforcement such as TW describes.

I,_Brian

give_them_FA wrote: »

What I was getting at Brian, was- had you already applied for your new disc BEFORE the FPN was issued; or did you apply afterwards? If the former there's a slight chance of a sympathetic hearing.

Unfortunately the 14 day grace period IS a myth, though a widely held belief, and not helped by the inconsistent enforcement such as TW describes.

Bought the tax disc on Sunday (5th), arrived today (10th).

Think I'll pop into the local police station tomorrow and have a chat. If doesn't work, will write a letter, and see what happens.

I can accept being punished for doing wrong - I was just genuinely under the impression that I had seen mention of a grace period of 14 days on the DVLA website, hence why I felt fine to drive today, knowing the tax disc was already paid for.

HO87

I,_Brian wrote: »

Bought the tax disc on Sunday (5th), arrived today (10th).

Think I'll pop into the local police station tomorrow and have a chat. If doesn't work, will write a letter, and see what happens.

I can accept being punished for doing wrong - I was just genuinely under the impression that I had seen mention of a grace period of 14 days on the DVLA website, hence why I felt fine to drive today, knowing the tax disc was already paid for.

I suspect you'll be met with a degree of sympathy but, as they might also be tempted to say, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

By all means write a letter but, as the detail on the FPN explains, there is no appeal. The only means of appeal is to decline to pay and allow the matter to go to the Magistrates Court. You might find a greater degree of sympathy there but you did commit the offence and even if they simply mirrored the FPN, in terms of a fine, you'd have to add costs and the completely inescapable Victims Levy.

give_them_FA

Yes, as HO says it is possible to decline to pay and insist on going to court. That's obviously a bit of a gamble as the Bench can be unpredictable. If they agree you were in earnest good faith (which you were) they might impose a nominal penalty or even an absolute discharge (= nothing).

The one time I did it, the CPS dropped the case as not being in the public interest; but, don't count on that!

With everything checkable on instantly accessible databases it could be argued that the requirement to display is something of an anachronism, and the police who issued the FPN must have been aware your vehicle was actually taxed; = stealth tax.

taffy056

give_them_FA wrote: »

With everything checkable on instantly accessible databases it could be argued that the requirement to display is something of an anachronism, and the police who issued the FPN must have been aware your vehicle was actually taxed; = stealth tax.

Of course they knew it was taxed, otherwise it would have been towed, but trying to get an FPN overturned is like swimming against the tide, worth asking the police to see if they got a better side, if they say nope, I would pay the £60 and be done with it, going to court could increase that by 5 or 6 times. Hell of gamble, and being in the gaming industry previously the odds don't look favourable.