DVLA Fine - Please help!

leebee76

Hi everyone!

I'm hoping that someone will know the answer to this.

My boyfriend received a letter today from the DVLA re an unlicensed vehicle fine.

His car was seen without tax on 10th May this year and they're fining him £51.

My question is, is there a statutory (not sure if this is the right word?!) time period in which the DVLA are obliged to inform the vehicle owner of this?

Many thanks

MarkyMarkD

Don't think so.

If he wasn't taxed, he committed an offence.

leebee76

Thanks MarkyMarkD

Does anyone have any expertise in this ie can anyone tell me for sure that there ISN'T a rule on time limits?

Thanks

custardy

can i ask,have you moved house since the offence date?

leebee76

Hi Custardy

No, we're still at the same address

custardy

well for speeding offences it needs to be filed at court within 6 months.however it seems theres no time limit on issueing the penalty.
i would guess tax is the same.
http://www.roadsidelawyer.co.uk/questions/what-time-limits-are-there-for-issuing-a-summons-for-a-speeding-offence/

oldagetraveller

leebee76 wrote: »

His car was seen without tax on 10th May this year and they're fining him £51.

You don't say whether the car was on the road or off road, eg. at the registered or other address or when the tax expired?
If the car was on the road and the tax had expired then, sorry he's only himself to blame for not renewing.
If the car is off road then/at the moment and not being used then he should have declared SORN, there's also a fine for that.
Is the car still not taxed or SORN declared, it's now over 3 months since the car was "seen"?
I'm not saying it's the case here but there's usually a reason for not taxing a car and using it on the roads - no MOT and/or insurance.
I'm sure the DVLA are quite entitled to apply the fine without prior warning.

anewman

£51 fine seems quite reasonable and cheap to me. Pay up and miss out on a romantic meal together.

mrbadexample

I'm pretty sure there's a 6-month time limit, so this offence becomes statute-barred on 10/11/2007.

Unfortunately, they got you with plenty of time to spare.