My tax fell off the windscreen and now I have a ticket......

[kalidarkone]

When I came out of college yesterday I saw I had been given a ticket, I could not work out why at first as I was not on double yellows or blocking an entrance.When I got in the car and read the ticket it was for not displaying my tax disc. When I looked the tax disc was not there but on the floor of the car

It fell off, with out me realising,I did not intentionally not display it. I filled out part 3 of the ticket saying I will see them in court! I would rather speak to them about it but it says clearly on the ticket they will not enter in to any conversation about it either I admit it and pay £30 or dispute it and go to court,

Has this happened to anyone? What do you think my chances are? Its all such a waste of everybody's time.

 

[zoltan]

TD have to be in view - not displaying one ( even if it has one ) is an offence

sorry

 

[kalidarkone]

TD have to be in view - not displaying one ( even if it has one ) is an offence

sorry

Even though it had fallen on the floor in between me going to college and coming back from college ? As far as I am concerned I was displaying it!

 

[bi0boy]

AFAIK the police won't pursue anyone for failing to display as long as they have a valid tax disc (i.e it shows up on their computer) so I am wondering who the ticket is from?

 

[pogofish]

Dunno, they have got a lot stricter on tax in the last few years.

 

[geminisnake]

Only chance of getting off with this is if you weren't on a public road, but then a traffic warden shouldn't have been there.

Law is disc must be displayed and be visible from the pavement. I was stopped yrs ago becasue my disc wasn't visible as the cops drove past(it was too low )

Good luck sweetie but I think you might have to pay the fine

 

[chymaera]

When I came out of college yesterday I saw I had been given a ticket, .

Who by? The plod can do a near instantaneous check to see of a car is taxed insured and MOTed, so they would know the vehicle is taxed.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

It doesn't matter if they can check, the offence here is not displaying it. I know it seems unfair but they are within their rights to slap a ticket on. TBH I wouldn't even bother going to court on this one as you will probably lose and end up even more out of pocket than you would be just paying the fine.

 

[kalidarkone]

It doesn't matter if they can check, the offence here is not displaying it. I know it seems unfair but they are within their rights to slap a ticket on. TBH I wouldn't even bother going to court on this one as you will probably lose and end up even more out of pocket than you would be just paying the fine.

Shit I sent the thing back saying I would see them in court I am just sooooo skint and it is so unfair. Well They will have to take any payment at about £1 a week, I'm lucky if I break even every month.

 

[Miss Peabody]

Shit I sent the thing back saying I would see them in court I am just sooooo skint and it is so unfair. Well They will have to take any payment at about £1 a week, I'm lucky if I break even every month.

Cry in court...I know JP's who are only really interested in drunk drivers or people driving extremely hazardously - ie, using a mobile

If you go to court, looking smart, but maybe slightly shabby , tell them you're at college, a decent member of society, and explain what happened, I am sure you'll get off. Unless they are complete cunts

 

[WouldBe]

It doesn't matter if they can check, the offence here is not displaying it. I know it seems unfair but they are within their rights to slap a ticket on. TBH I wouldn't even bother going to court on this one as you will probably lose and end up even more out of pocket than you would be just paying the fine.

What happens if someone nicks your tax disc?
How is that your fault?

 

[mr steev]

Has this happened to anyone? What do you think my chances are? Its all such a waste of everybody's time.

It happened to us a few months back.
We were walking back to the car knowing that the pay and display had expired and thought it was for that at first, but then noticed it was a police one, not a council one. But when I read it, it just said that the disc needs to be displayed. I presumed that cos it's all computerised now they just radioed in the reg and found that it was taxed.

 

[zoltan]

AFAIK the police won't pursue anyone for failing to display as long as they have a valid tax disc (i.e it shows up on their computer) so I am wondering who the ticket is from?

Its the traffic wardens who have this within their remit - if its not visible, then its ticket time - no questions

I know, ive been done

 

[Roadkill]

I sympathise, because I drove around in my last car without displaying my nearly-expired disk for a few weeks, after it fell off and slipped down the demister vent.

As others have said, the offence is not displaying the disk so legally I don't think you've a leg to stand on. Tbh, in your shoes I'd have been tempted to pay up. As it is, I guess the best thing you can do is tell the absolute truth in court, apologise profusely, produce some proof that you had actually paid the tax and hope you get a kind-hearted Magistrate in a good mood who'll take pity on you.

 

[beeboo]

Glad I read this - my disc holder has stopped being sticky so it has just been resting on the dashboard for the last couple of months

 

[zoltan]

"Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (c. 22).

Not exhibiting licence


(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he uses, or keeps, on a public road a vehicle in respect of which vehicle excise duty is chargeable, and
(b) there is not fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle in the manner prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State a licence for, or in respect of, the vehicle which is for the time being in force.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

(3) Subsection (1)—

(a) has effect subject to the provisions of regulations made by the Secretary of State, and
(b) is without prejudice to section 29. "

 

[kalidarkone]

I sympathise, because I drove around in my last car without displaying my nearly-expired disk for a few weeks, after it fell off and slipped down the demister vent.

As others have said, the offence is not displaying the disk so legally I don't think you've a leg to stand on. Tbh, in your shoes I'd have been tempted to pay up. As it is, I guess the best thing you can do is tell the absolute truth in court, apologise profusely, produce some proof that you had actually paid the tax and hope you get a kind-hearted Magistrate in a good mood who'll take pity on you.

The proof is that I have the tax disc!! I have stuck it back on.It had just slipped and was on the floor of the passenger seat, plus they would have checked if the car was taxed I expect.

I will cry and I am at college and a single mum.

 

[chymaera]

Its the traffic wardens who have this within their remit - if its not visible, then its ticket time - no questions

And some of them are right bastards about it, especially on motorcyles. It isn't all that easy to bolt the tax disc holder on the front forks of a lot of bikes, so many people bolt them elsewhere. I know people who have been ticketed, and who have ridden straight to the police station and the traffic warden has got a bollocking for not being more observant.

 

[selamlar]

I got done for having an un taxed car parked on the road a few years ago (I know, bad me). There are two offences involved:
1) Keeping an untaxed vehicle on the public highway
2) Not displaying a valid tax disk.

Sorry!

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

When you sent the thing in, did you admit the tax disc had slipped?

If they don't have photographic evidence the tax disc wasn't on display, they have f*ck all that would stand up in court, surely?

(don't take my word for this)

 

[mr steev]

I've just had a community copper at the door cos my tax disc had fell off again.

He told me that they don't give out tickets, but will issue a reminder. (They knew it was taxed, and also where I lived) He did say that there is a van going round which will do you, as will traffic wardens.

 

[FabricLiveBaby!]

this thread makes me

cuntish cunts.

 

[tommers]

Glad I read this - my disc holder has stopped being sticky so it has just been resting on the dashboard for the last couple of months

same here. and everything went sideways when I took a particularly sharp corner this morning.

 

[kalidarkone]

If I see the traffic wardens again next week when I am at college I'm gonna have a word with them. They are hardcore here cos all the residents complain about the students parking. They give you a ticket if you have 2 wheels on the curb..see now they would never do that in Easton or St Pauls...but Filton pah!

I'm also cross cos I always park about 10 mins away from college and never put 2 wheels on the curb.

 

[roryer]

Sell your car! Jesus man, get a life. Car drivers deserve nothing but trouble man. Traffic wardens are the unsung heroes of our sad and sorry age.

 

[Oswaldtwistle]

Sell your car! Jesus man, get a life. Car drivers deserve nothing but trouble man. Traffic wardens are the unsung heroes of our sad and sorry age.

(yawn)

 

[dessiato]

I was driving a car (some years ago) with a disk six months out of date, I got fined for not having valid tax, and for failing to display a valid tax disk, and had to pay the back tax!

 

[gentlegreen]

Believe it or not, this happened the very first time I drove my Reliant 3-wheeler on the motorway. I just got up to speed when it fell off my window so couldn't do anything about it and I was pulled over. Luckily the police were understanding about it.

I'd better check my car this weekend - at the same time I find out if the battery is flat after 2 months of not driving it.

 

[Miss Peabody]

Reliants are allowed on the motorway

I never knew that. Not really funny, but the image it conjures up made me smile.

Hope it makes Kalidarkone smile too...until court day, when she must bawl and yes, explain that you are a hard working single mum, going to college - well done you, btw, that must be hard going

 

[gentlegreen]

Reliants are allowed on the motorway

Happy to say I never had a driving lesson either.