Alleged Flouting of the Law

paddedjohn

prowla wrote: »

As I understand it, it is an offence not to display a tax disc.
And an untaxed car in an accident could cause issues for the other party.
Do everybody a favour by reporting it.

How could an untaxed car cause problems in the event of an accident? Its the insurance that takes care of any claim not the tax disc.

bazster

1886 wrote: »

If you read the small print on your tax disc you`ll see it`s an offence not to display a valid tax disc

No, really? I'd never have known, what a mine of information you are, thank you so much for pointing this out.

And like I said earlier in the thread, no-one gives a stuff about it. Certainly not me, certainly not the DVLA, certainly not The Plod. Because, unlike the pedants infesting this place, those people all know that it's an irrelevant and obsolete law dating back to when coppers needed to see the tax disc to know if a vehicle was taxed. Nowadays they just ask the computer, so in the real world common sense is applied.

This thread is like the founding meeting of Pedants and Busybodies Anonymous.

bazster

buscape wrote: »

There's no need to, if it's uninsured, they will be in trouble because of the continuous registration laws or the police will catch up with them.

No they won't. I left a vehicle un-SORN'd for months while I was out of the country, no-one ever did anything about it.

[Deleted User]

buscape wrote: »

There's no need to, if it's uninsured, they will be in trouble because of the continuous registration laws or the police will catch up with them.

And, in the meantime, there'd be an uninsured driver on the road.

What would the OP gain by reporting it?

Possibly saving someone from being hit by an uninsured driver.

[Deleted User]

bazster wrote: »

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

But you are guilty, of failing to display a current VEL.

valk_scot

Oh goodness, what a palaver.

I'd tell you what I'd do if it was bothering me that much. I'd spend two minutes checking it through the website links provided because I never knew you could do that sort of thing and I'm nosy. If it was fine for insurance and tax, that would be the end of the matter. Goodness knows I've driven some scruffy bangers in my time!

If it wasn't I would, next time I was chatting to him, tell him I'd noticed his tax disc wasn't up to date and tell him about the time I managed to leave my own car untaxed and uninsured for five months a few years ago when one of my young kids was dangerously ill in hospital. (This is true btw. I was totally in the wrong but I was genuinely not thinking about much other than my son at the time. I sorted it out the day I realised.)

Hopefully this would be enough to nudge him along. If not and it was still not displaying a disc say a month later I would then consider reporting it through the website link. I'm very much in favour of live and let live but yes, it's not a good thing to be driving around uninsured. I was hit by an uninsured driver a few years ago, fortunately when my own insurance was in place, yes, and it was a real faff tbh. But I should point out my own insurance still covered me for damage to my car. Isn't that still the case nowadays? You claim from your own insurance then they claim from the other driver's? But yes, insurance skivers drive premiums up for us all. And tax skivers don't pay into the communal tax pot either. How much do I wish to fall out with my new neighbour about this, I ask myself?

As to scruffy legal cars in the cul-de-sac, as long as it's not parked over my drive it's not my business. And I'd be ashamed of myself if I did think it mattered tbh. Scruffy can mean many things, starting with not much money. It really would be chronically pathetic to look down on someone because they can't afford as smart a car as you, don't you think?

bazster

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

But you are guilty, of failing to display a current VEL.

I've already dealt with that one twice. NO-ONE CARES, certainly not me.

Any more busybody pedants wanting the same answer?

harveybobbles

Maybe they have a Trade Policy? I used to have an older car that was never taxed for years. Just used to drive around with Trade Plates in the footwell. (its more of an offence these days not to have the TP displayed though lol)

[Deleted User]

valk_scot wrote: »

But I should point out my own insurance still covered me for damage to my car. Isn't that still the case nowadays?

Only if you have a comprehensive policy.

[Deleted User]

harveybobbles wrote: »

I used to have an older car that was never taxed for years. Just used to drive around with Trade Plates in the footwell.

So you were misusing your trade plates?