MSE News: The end is nigh for tax discs - how will it affect you?

aTOMLondon

AdrianC wrote: »

SORN it now.
Tax it in January. BUT don't put it on the road before then. It goes on the road in December, it needs to be taxed for December.

Thanks for the quick answer. Unfortunately it won't work. As a new keeper I cannot sorn it online.
"If you are a new keeper you can only make a SORN using a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) form V890..."
So cannot make it tonight.

By the way as it is end of the year, DVLA won't receive the V5 logbook before January from old keeper.

aTOMLondon

Just for theory. If I bought this car today, filled the V5 logbook but I will go to collect it on the 1st of January, then I did not drive it untaxed. So DVLA cannot complain. If I am right, the law says only you cannot take to the road untaxed vehicle. What will not happen on this occasion.
Is the fine automatic anyway? Because if it is, then it is no point to risk a fine for £20. Just I feel robbed for this 3 days.

aTOMLondon

Anyobdy? I don't want to pusing you, but It's almost midnight....

Iceweasel

SORN it by Post - date it today.

Keep a note of the number on the V5C/2 - the new owners part.

Then tax it in January.

That way you've gone by their rules.

When they actually receive the posted SORN is not your problem.

aTOMLondon

As I did not get a clear answer and I really worried of the fines, so I decided to pay the 6 month tax just right now. I still feel robbed but £20 is still cheaper then £80 fine.

Tilt

Cop Squad TV programme on free view channel "Pick" shows police stopping a driver (while dealing with another driver) who was displaying an out of date tax disc which the officer noticed from "30 yards". The explanation given was that tax discs are coloured differently depending on the year so that they can be noticed from a distance to determine whether they are likely to be in date or not.

"The officer noticed (from a distance) that the approaching car was not displaying the correct colour tax disc to correspond with that particular time."

On this occasion BECAUSE the officer (who was standing on the road side at the time) noticed the colour of the tax disc and subsequently stopped the car and found it to be over a month out of date.

So how would this work now?

BeenThroughItAll

Tilt wrote: »

Cop Squad TV programme on free view channel "Pick" shows police stopping a driver (while dealing with another driver) who was displaying an out of date tax disc which the officer noticed from "30 yards". The explanation given was that tax discs are coloured differently depending on the year so that they can be noticed from a distance to determine whether they are likely to be in date or not.

"The officer noticed (from a distance) that the approaching car was not displaying the correct colour tax disc to correspond with that particular time."

On this occasion BECAUSE the officer (who was standing on the road side at the time) noticed the colour of the tax disc and subsequently stopped the car and found it to be over a month out of date.

So how would this work now?

'Computer' reads number plate.

'Computer' goes "ping".

Copper reads screen of 'computer' to assimilate offence information.

Copper pulls over car.


All possible from a fixed camera, mobile camera, or even a handheld device.

Tilt

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

'Computer' reads number plate.

'Computer' goes "ping".

Copper reads screen of 'computer' to assimilate offence information.

Copper pulls over car.


All possible from a fixed camera, mobile camera, or even a handheld device.

<SIGH!> Clearly you failed to grasp the scenario that was being described.

Police officer had stopped another motorist and was OUT OF HIS CAR speaking to him and while doing so HAD NO HAND HELD DEVICE in his hand. He used his eyes to see the approaching car NOT A COMPUTER OR HAND HELD DEVICE as he had neither to hand at the time.

So if that had happened since October the 1st, the car would of simply driven by un-challenged.

Get it now?

AdrianC

Tilt wrote: »

<SIGH!> Clearly you failed to grasp the scenario that was being described.

Police officer had stopped another motorist and was OUT OF HIS CAR speaking to him and while doing so HAD NO HAND HELD DEVICE in his hand. He used his eyes to see the approaching car NOT A COMPUTER OR HAND HELD DEVICE as he had neither to hand at the time.

So if that had happened since October the 1st, the car would of simply driven by un-challenged.

Get it now?

You present an excellent argument in favour of compulsory MOT and insurance certificate display.

Tilt

AdrianC wrote: »

You present an excellent argument in favour of compulsory MOT and insurance certificate display.

Not really. The tax disc was good enough reason to stop a vehicle and check for these things as well. If the tax was found to be out of date, it probably follows that the MOT/Insurance was not up to date either.

Having nothing on display at all increases the chances for those people who "work the system" to get away with driving illegally.