Advice pls....first offence.

malima

Please can someone give me some advice.
My husband ran a red light, he was caught by traffic police and fined, with 3 points off, he was told to bring his insurance and mot to his nearest police station.
I could'nt find the mot cert. , so i put the car in for an mot....then took all the documents to the police, the police said that they wanted the mot for last week, not a new one, so i went back and looked for it again, i found it, but it is 4 months out of date!So now we are told that my husband is officially charged for driving without an mot, and i am also to be charged because i am the registered keeper of the car!
I would like to know what usually happens in situations like this, do we go to court? does my husband get a ban? I am terrified, we have never been in trouble before.
Any advice would be appreciated.

malima

chris147_2

Nothing like a ban for no mot.

Only a fine and even at that it's not going to be a lot.

Best words of advice I can give (I'm sure you'll still worry) is don't worry!

You can't get points for no MOT.

I presume you will have been reported for causing the vehicle to be used without an MOT due to the fact that you are the keeper therefore you allowed him to use it?

Good luck but unfortunately you will be looking at a fine.

It's easy to do (done it myself). Just don't forget in the future!

Chris

anewman

AFAIK the driver is responsible for ensuring s/he is insured to drive the vehicle and that it currently has an MOT. If you didn't get caught from running a red light it would probably have been one of the camera vans that checks cars. If you can, get the MOT done one month before the MOT is due without fail.

Conor_3

Actually I think you can get points for no MOT nowadays. I'm a bit surprised at them going after you though - usually they reserve that for more serious breaches such as no insurance.

Hapless_2

No penalty points for no MOT afaik, but there is a fine of up to £1000
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069870

uktyler

You don't get points for not having an MOT, just a fine of up to £1000. I think they can fine both of you this amount. My advice is to always check your documents, as not having an MOT invalidates your insurance, so for four months you have been driving without.
If you had an accident in that time it is possible the insurance company would not pay up.
I'd put it on the calender now if I were you!
Good luck with this, I'm sure they won't fine you the full £1000, they reserve that for the stupidly rich.

Nail_Lad

uktyler wrote: »

You don't get points for not having an MOT, just a fine of up to £1000. I think they can fine both of you this amount. My advice is to always check your documents, as not having an MOT invalidates your insurance, so for four months you have been driving without.
If you had an accident in that time it is possible the insurance company would not pay up.
I'd put it on the calender now if I were you!
Good luck with this, I'm sure they won't fine you the full £1000, they reserve that for the stupidly rich.

Agreed, more importantly its only since the police have pulled your husband that you've suddenly realised! If they hadn't how long before you would have checked to see if the car needed an MOT? Probably until it needed taxing? I don't mean to preach.

You should try not worry. I've only every known people be fined for not having a valid MOT. It would be very unlikely for you to get points on your license. You obviously sound genuinely remorseful and assuming the vehicle was taxed and insured (theoritically) then the police should be lenient. I would hope the combined fine for you both would be no more than £400. There are no guarantees however and as has been said this could be up to £1000 each. I hope it works out ok for you. Look on the bright side the car has a new MOT! :cool:

chris147_2

Nail_Lad wrote: »

You obviously sound genuinely remorseful and assuming the vehicle was taxed and insured (theoritically) then the police should be lenient.

Would you be saying that though if the MOT and tax were in order but the insurance had run out?

I know it's a less serious offence but I can never understand why people think the Police should be lenient on motorists all the time?

Sure we pay a lot to use cars (tax, petrol, running costs etc) but surely we should expect the Police to enforce the law? If someone out of the blue punched you in the face as you were walking along and it was their first offence should the Police be lenient if they are remorseful?

Sorry! Rant over!

Let us know how you get on with it!

Chris

Nail_Lad

chris147 wrote: »

Would you be saying that though if the MOT and tax were in order but the insurance had run out?

I know it's a less serious offence but I can never understand why people think the Police should be lenient on motorists all the time?

Sure we pay a lot to use cars (tax, petrol, running costs etc) but surely we should expect the Police to enforce the law? If someone out of the blue punched you in the face as you were walking along and it was their first offence should the Police be lenient if they are remorseful?

Sorry! Rant over!

Let us know how you get on with it!

Chris

Agree whole heartedly to be honest. They are too lenient. I never said I thought it was right that they are too lenient just that they are likely to be. I think if more maximum fines were adhered to then maybe people would pay a bit more attention to not committing minor offences. However, in the interest of the original posters concern having seemingly committed a small offence without intention I thought it best to offer the most likely scenario as opposed to voicing my concerns regarding the state of policing in 2008.

jrrowleyws

Generally no MOT = Invalid insurance

Depends on what they feel like giving you.

Wig

No MOT does not invalidate insurance. The insurer will still be liable if there had been an accident.

OP, you will both get a small fine nowhere near £1000 IMHO