DVLA Requisition - No Insurance

SCRIBES

Late last year I was really stupid and deeply regretted driving without insurance - no excuses! There were migrating circumstances but at the end of the day it was my own fault.
Anyway I was stopped by the Police and my car was seized on 11 Nov 13. I had to pay a fine of £300, got 6 pts + paid a further £400 to recover my car. I have since insured my car and thought that was the end of the matter. Today I got a letter from the DVLA taking me to court in Watford on 12/2/14 (I live in Staffordshire!) because I wasn't insured on 5 Nov 13?
I have already been punished and do not think that it is right to punish me again. Can they do this, should I plead Guilty or not Guilty (as I have already been fined). There are no contact details on the forms and I don't know who or where to contact.
I never received any chasing letters from DVLA which I believe they normally send when you have no insurance. Any help will be gratefully accepted.
I have learnt my lesson - my advice don't do it! It just isn't worth it.

Johnmcl7

Was the car taxed when you were caught without insurance or was it declared SORN?

John

SCRIBES

It was/is taxed. Does that make any difference?

DUTR

SCRIBES wrote: »

It was/is taxed. Does that make any difference?

Yes it does matter, your original post suggests that the penalty was for the incident on the 11th, the letter you recieved is regarding the 5th, 2 seperate days two seperate incidents.

SCRIBES

Sorry for the confusion. It seems that the letter is a separate incident, I was uninsured on the 5th Nov but did but realise that DVLA would be taking me to court over this as the Police had stopped me a week later and took action. Had I known that DVLA would be taking action on the 5th I would not have driven the car after that date. It's taken DVLA over 2 months to back date my offence. As stupid as I was this seems unfair?

DUTR

SCRIBES wrote: »

Sorry for the confusion. It seems that the letter is a separate incident, I was uninsured on the 5th Nov but did but realise that DVLA would be taking me to court over this as the Police had stopped me a week later and took action. Had I known that DVLA would be taking action on the 5th I would not have driven the car after that date. It's taken DVLA over 2 months to back date my offence. As stupid as I was this seems unfair?

From the outsider, it will seem unfair that there are folks on the road uninsured, although it seems you are going to be punished twice, get ready for the next insurance renewal, the companies will punish you again and again.

thenudeone

They are two completely separate offences:
1)Driving/Using a vehicle on a road/public place without insurance: endorsable. This is what the police have prosecuted

2) Being the keeper of a vehicle not declared SORN and failing to ensure a policy exists. DVLA enforce this. No points, just a fine or fixed penalty.

So yes, you can be "punished" again.
Not good news but there it is.

dacouch

SCRIBES wrote: »

There were migrating circumstances but at the end of the day it was my own fault.

You are moving abroad is a good excuse to defeat no insurance

AdrianC

SCRIBES wrote: »

Had I known that DVLA would be taking action on the 5th I would not have driven the car after that date.

The DVLA prosecution's nothing to do with _driving_ the car. If a car is uninsured, it legally needs to be SORNed rather than taxed.

The police prosecution was because they caught you _driving_ an uninsured car, nothing to do with whether it's taxed or not.

SCRIBES

dacouch wrote: »

You are moving abroad is a good excuse to defeat no insurance

Can you please expand? As it happens I am actually planning on moving abroad.

SCRIBES

Finally got to the bottom of this. DVLA apparently sent me two letters which said that I had a penalty to pay. I can honestly say that I never received the letters. DVLA advised me to give them a call them and pay the penalty although I had no idea what the penalty is and thought this would be better than the court route. I called them and they said I couldn't pay as I hadn't responded to their letters and would have to go to court. I have therefore asked them for copies of the letters. Not sure if this will do any good but may help with my mitigation.