Tax disc is in the post...

Genuinely, it really is! It is in the post and I've got an email from the DVLA to "prove" it.

I think I'm correct in believing that there are two rules governing tax discs:
Firstly you are required to have paid VED for a vehicle used on the public highway.
Secondly you are required to display a valid disc.

Now, if I were to use the newly fixed (again) bike on the road before the new tax disc arrives then I'm definitely guilty of the second rule, but I'd argue not the first. As I understand it's the first rule that has the vehicle crushing etc powers, wheras the second is a fixed penalty.

So, if I chance it what might happen? If it's a tug and a friendly chat from a copper then I'm happy to take my chances and be nice and polite, produce email, ask them if they have time to perchance contact the DVLA to confirm, accept a producer etc. However, what worries me more is automated big-bruvva cameras spotting my reg plate on the road and spewing forth automated fines of doom.

For the record, it genuinely is in the post, it was SORN'ed whilst broken, finally fixed the last bits tonight and so now paid for a tax disc online.

I would imagine that as long as you have waited a "reasonable" amount of time then you could argue that you have paid for the privelage to use the public highway and the delay is not your fault.

[Lissa]

I think that as long as you have paid, and your disc is on its way, you will be shown as legal by these ANPR camera's as they are supposed to be able to instantly tell if you have paid or not.

That's my understanding of how they work, anyway.

Originally Posted by Lissa

I think that as long as you have paid, and your disc is on its way, you will be shown as legal by these ANPR camera's as they are supposed to be able to instantly tell if you have paid or not.

That's my understanding of how they work, anyway.

They're miles out of date

I've been driving from the 1st with an out of date tax disc (it is paid for, but just being re-directed)
My bikes tax is current, but the disc on display is 28-02-08 as I didn't fancy it being nicked.


The police are pretty slack to be honest. They've got better olympic torch events to attend

OK, how the ANPR cameras work (at least the ones outside London)...

You ride/drive past a camera, and it records you, usually without a flash as they're video cameras and don't really take still images. A computer processes the image constantly, looking for something numberplate sized, and either white or yellow, with black writing on it.

If it finds an "investigatable object" it passes that still frame to another computer, who further processes the image. If this computer cannot determine a numberplate (as in it can't read it, because your plate is too small, or because it's not actually a plate etc) then it's flagged to an operator as an "unknown." Then it's down to the operator. Can they be bothered opening the image, looking for a plate, then punching in the details to the computer? All they have to do is type the plate details in, the computer will do the rest, but there's a hell of a lot of "unknown" hits.

If the 2nd computer can determine the numberplate though, there's no need for the operator, and the computer checks it's DB (which is horredously out of date in comparison to the DVLA database) to see if your vehicle is legal. If you are, it deletes the image. If you're not, it saves the image seperately, and flags to the operator "illegal vehicle, please investigate." Note, that if a vehicle is reports as stolen within the DB, it will flag this up too, and it's a different flag to the one above.

The operator then has to dispatch a unit to come & pull you over. Even if the unit is dispatched, there's a chance they may not find you, unless the CCTV operator is actively tracking you.

The same applies in cars fitted with ANPR cameras. It will only ever flag up a "please investigate" or "stolen" vehicle.

Also, the ANPR system is wildly inaccurate, I know of instances where a camera will report a fence as having no tax!!

So, in answer to the question, you'll be fine on point 1, so long as you have evidence to prove you've paid it. You may get tugged because the DB is out of date, but that's not your fault.

On point 2, if you get pulled, not displaying valid tax is only worth ?30 IIRC (could be ?60), and that's the max they can do as you have proof of payment. That's down to the copper that stops you.

It's worth noting that I was stopped a while back, and had an old tax disc in the holder, with the new one under the seat of the bike, which I happily produced & explained why it was there. Even in that situation, I was told I could be prosecuted for not displaying valid tax!!

Another essay from Baph.

[mister c]

I would have thought that if it's paid for, then you hold a current vehicle licence. It would show up on the computers.
As for displaying your tax disc. I work with a Policeman when doing the CBT's & he once said that as long as you have it, then it would have to be a barsteward of a copper that did you for it.Mine isn't displayed, I carry it around in my wallet. If I get pulled over I explain that I don't want it stolen off my machine

Just ride it.

If ou get a tug produce the e-mail and ask the bobby nicely to check with DVLA. It should be on PNC anyway.

They wont seize your bike and you will be advised to display it in a prominent place when it arrives.

No worries here in Stoke, police are too busy attacking BBC journalists

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by Baph

Stuff

Blimey, I'll just get me coat then eh Baph?

Originally Posted by BluePete

Blimey, I'll just get me coat then eh Baph?

Sorry dude, didn't mean to steal your thunder.