MSE News: Driving licence warning: Keep it up to date or face £1,000 fine

Igotothefootofourstairs

Gloomendoom wrote: »

What is the big deal about updating driving licences?

It's dead easy to do and the cost is negligible.

Quite right the cost is negligible, so why are they charging £20 ?

Aretnap

Igotothefootofourstairs wrote: »

Now there is nothing in law that you were to be charged the rather extortionate rate of £20 when the original cost £2 ..?

Yes there is. The not at all Orwellianly named Road Safety Act gave the Secretary of State (in practice his proxies at the DVLA) the right to charge a fee for the renewal of the photocard. It was going to be free when photocards were introduced, but apparently charging for them was a vital road safety measure. :think:

The true cost of reissuing these is pence 20p perhaps...

You calculated that on the basis of...?

20p doesn't even cover the stamp to send the new one back to you.

Igotothefootofourstairs

Aretnap wrote: »

Yes there is. The not at all Orwellianly named Road Safety Act gave the Secretary of State (in practice his proxies at the DVLA) the right to charge a fee for the renewal of the photocard. It was going to be free when photocards were introduced, but apparently charging for them was a vital road safety measure. :think:

You calculated that on the basis of...?

20p doesn't even cover the stamp to send the new one back to you.

I calculated it on the basis firstly HMS does not require a "stamp" and the photo YOU supply is merely scanned into a government main frame computer and the reprinted on already mass produced driving licence blank paper with your data base info already compiled.

They never used to charge anything like this before, everything today is on a modern computerised system... which was all done manually before too. And we were told originally that this was to be a free renewal. God knows english citizens pay enough fuel and road tax duty already. ... perhaps we all ought to get our licences from Hong Kong instead like bent MPs and immigrants at present do.:)

C_Mababejive

Oh gawd,,not this one again...

Subjects,bend the knee and comply in fear...

scotsbob

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Oh gawd,,not this one again...

Subjects,bend the knee and comply in fear...

:rotfl:my thoughts exactly, a barrack room lawyer like caddyman must be a real bundle of joy to live with

hanlou007

£1000 ??
Thats a heftier punishment than these people who get caught driving without a licence/tax/mot and under influence of drink.......

chris-j

I agree with the name and address changes and these have always had to be updated, but the photocard is a nonsense.
If your photocard expires, your licence to drive remains valid until you are 70 and if you can still be recognised from the photo, what is the problem.
I know recognition is subjective but most people, especially as they get older are still easily recognisable after 10 years.
I get why they make them valid for 10 years initially but some common sense on renewal if name/address not changed should be applied.
Costs of renewing though should be restricted to the actual cost of the service being provided.

mcbob_2

I'm not opposed to the principle - but it does seem like another stealth tax. Are the real costs £20, I think not.

worried123

£1,000 fine is outrageous......and people who repeatedly commit `real` crime and anti social behaviour just get a slap on the wrist apparently.

Drivers are penalised sooo much....I call at addresses all day with my work and if I am gone just a short while past my ticket expiry I will get a fine every single time........(doing government surveys by the way) and the fines arent cheap and they come out of my pocket.

I know there has to be law and order but I think that decent law abiding citizens are just targeted far too much.....fine criminals and those engaged in anti social behaviour £1,000....

It has reached a stage where being a driver is soo stressful....`park here and you will die`.......`no return in 6 hours or you will be shot`..........`leave your car here and it will be crushed`........

My car was broken into whilst working and it also had a parking fine on the windscreen......I would hope this wasnt put there after the car had been broken into.......my purse and driving license was stolen and it cost me £20 to have replaced....

Sorry - i know that i sound like victor meldrew

Gloomendoom

Igotothefootofourstairs wrote: »

They never used to charge anything like this before, everything today is on a modern computerised system... which was all done manually before too.

You need to do more research. When first introduced in 1903, driving licences needed to be be renewed annually for a fee of 5/- (25p.) Allowing for inflation, that is around £26 in today's money... for a year!

By the early 1970's the renewal period had lengthened to 3 years for a fee of 15/- (75p.) That is about £12 in today's money.

All of a sudden, the current fee of £20 for ten years seems to look like a bit of a bargain.