I have been driving on Penistone Road today near the Wednesday ground. There was a setup outsite it, At first i thought it was a speed trap but as i passed it was dvla scanning each car as it passed to se if they are taxed or now. I have never seen one of those before.

Little bit ironic this given that we've had all the threats of instant fines, cars being impounded and the only thing they need being the information in their database.

I'm surprised they didn't just stop you, force you to walk and then hand you the £1,000 fine and paperwork to stop it being crushed..

Originally posted by MarkB
I have been driving on Penistone Road today near the Wednesday ground. There was a setup outsite it, At first i thought it was a speed trap but as i passed it was dvla scanning each car as it passed to se if they are taxed or now. I have never seen one of those before.

Looks like I will be getting a fine through the post now because I have got to tax mine. Oops!

I don't have much sympathy for you unless you were on the way to the post office to get the tax. Untaxed means you are uninsured and thus a travelling liability.

Originally posted by MarkB
[B]I have been driving on Penistone Road today near the Wednesday ground. There was a setup outsite it, At first i thought it was a speed trap but as i passed it was dvla scanning each car as it passed to se if they are taxed or now. I have never seen one of those before.

They COULD also be checking database MOT and car/driver Insurance records as well.....most of the time, cars with no tax dont usually have anything else either.

The van was parked up in Broomhill opposite the Post Office last week so it is obviously touring the area....

Originally posted by MarkB
I have been driving on Penistone Road today near the Wednesday ground. There was a setup outsite it, At first i thought it was a speed trap but as i passed it was dvla scanning each car as it passed to se if they are taxed or now. I have never seen one of those before.

Looks like I will be getting a fine through the post now because I have got to tax mine. Oops!

Think yourself lucky, they were set up in Mansfield a few weeks ago and they were clamping those without tax. Good on them too :thumbsup:

It is a regular thing on Penistone Rd at the Leisure Centre,
get 'em off the road make room for us legal drivers.

I imagine it's a good way of tracking down those drivers who fill out a SORN declaration, then drive the car anyway.

my sister in law got stopped because her tax disk was positioned in such a way on the windscreen that the scanner couldn't read it - this system is nothing new they've been doing it for ages..

More power to the DVLA elbow:clap:

Ought to have a crusher with them though, crush it there and then.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Internetowl
my sister in law got stopped because her tax disk was positioned in such a way on the windscreen that the scanner couldn't read it - this system is nothing new they've been doing it for ages..

Are they able to scan the disk? Thought they 'read' the plates and looked for a legal match.

It is pretty efficient though,from SWFC to leisure centre you're nicked.A motor bike cop near the Crown, one on the other side near Swan Morton,if any one fancies doing a runner.

Originally posted by Cyclone
I don't have much sympathy for you unless you were on the way to the post office to get the tax. Untaxed means you are uninsured and thus a travelling liability.

Can I just say that untaxed does not mean uninsured! It doesn't void your insurance.

if you didn't have an MOT then you would void your insurance.
Just thought i would correct you.

Originally posted by MarkB
Can I just say that untaxed does not mean uninsured! It doesn't void your insurance.

if you didn't have an MOT then you would void your insurance.

yes i am getting my tax sorted in the next week once i get paid but i am insured and have got a valid MOT.

Just thought i would correct you.

Still shouldn't be on the road though!!

Originally posted by MarkB

yes i am getting my tax sorted in the next week
.

I thought you got an instant £80 fine if you didn't tax your vehicle within 14 days of it running out :confused:

If that is the case and your tax ran out at the end of last month, you will already have an £80 fine on it's way to you :help:

Check your Insurance certificate,

The vehicle must be legal to be on the road. No Tax, Not road legal. Insurance Void.

Originally posted by Scutts
I thought you got an instant £80 fine if you didn't tax your vehicle within 14 days of it running out :confused:

If that is the case and your tax ran out at the end of last month, you will already have an £80 fine on it's way to you :help:


whoever the car is registered too will get the £80 fine

I believe that the time to update records etc. will not enable the mobile detector to worry about folk who are a few weeks slow in paying.
I would think that they are chasing numbers that have already registered off-road (SORN) or are overdue Road Fund License by 3 months or more.

I still say we should let private contractors loose to pick up cars more than 3 months overdue. (with massive penalties on the contractor if they pick up legitimate vehicles)

Originally posted by Internetowl
my sister in law got stopped because her tax disk was positioned in such a way on the windscreen that the scanner couldn't read it - this system is nothing new they've been doing it for ages..

Originally posted by saxon51
Are they able to scan the disk? Thought they 'read' the plates and looked for a legal match.

If you look on a tax disc it contains a bar code, so I wonder if this is what the scanner is trying to scan, hence a tax disc positioned in such a way on the windscreen the scanner cant read it.

The roadside/mobile scanner is looking at "number plates".

The bar code is there to allow pedestrian inspectors with hand-held scanners to read a windshield disc.

I thought this was all logged on the computer now and if you don't declare off road you get a fine? This process seems pointless

Originally posted by Lickszz
I thought this was all logged on the computer now and if you don't declare off road you get a fine? This process seems pointless

You declare off-road. No Road Fund License paid. You continue to drive.

How to catch? Roadside cameras. OK?

You fail to pay Road Fund License but do not live at Registered Address?
Mobile camera will pull you off the road and (hopefully) crush if you don't produce documents within ???.

But, who carried these duties out? Is it Police or Traffic Wardens?

I believe that the current cameras are operated by, or on behalf of, the DVLA.

With or without police involvement?

Originally posted by SlimboyFat
The vehicle must be legal to be on the road. No Tax, Not road legal. Insurance Void.
If this is the case then why are untaxed drivers not prosecuted for driving without insurance?

A few months ago the police had a operation on the Prince of Wales road with a camera van at the Park way isalnd watching vehicles heading towards Darnall.

At the far side of the railway bridge the had a team of police waiting and any vehicle thatwas flagged up by the camera van was stopped at the bottom of the hill.

Now this is the best bit.

All those cars that had no tax or no insurance e.t.c were put on a car transporter and took away !!

This should be done more often.

Its simple and very effective. Just go to known areas once a month or so and stop dodgey looking cars.

Once the scum that drive around with no Tax, M.O.T and insurance relize that their cars are going to be took of them they might stop off the roads or pay their dues like the rest of us.

No such thing as 14 days grace. toughsky lucksy as the Moscow police would say

Originally posted by prioryx
No such thing as 14 days grace. toughsky lucksy as the Moscow police would say

it is 14 days before the automated system sends you a fine though.

ive got no sympathy with you its not o.k to drive a untaxed car on the public hyway you are breaking the law of the land and you deserve all you get and they will back date the tax so if i was you i would start saving your pennies :rant:

Originally posted by Internetowl
my sister in law got stopped because her tax disk was positioned in such a way on the windscreen that the scanner couldn't read it - this system is nothing new they've been doing it for ages..

Actually this is a relitavely new trick. They have been putting barcodes on the tax dics for only a few months. The scanner then reads this barcode and compares it to the database. If it is out of date then you get an automatic fine through the post. (Mam works at the Post Office). The penistone road/hillsbro leisure centre thing is just looking for illegal cars, checking tyres, rust, lights etc etc. If it is unroadworth it is empounded on the spot. If your tyres are work its a fine. Easy money.

Originally posted by prioryx
No such thing as 14 days grace. toughsky lucksy as the Moscow police would say

Maybe not officially, but no fine will be issued during those first 14 days - then you must either declare a SORN or pay the tax .

:thumbsup:

The scanner then reads this barcode and compares it to the database.

I'd be surprised if that is the case - a camera/laser that can read a barcode through laminated glass as cars go by? Any laser would surely pose a heatlth risk and cameras would be unlikely to get such a high definition image.
Much more likely to be OCR on the numberplate I'd suggest. Relatively easy.
I thought the barcodes were there to so that when the dreaded Post Office sells you the disc, they scan it and it's "linked" to the vehicle, or even just records that it's legitimately be issued. I dare say the "street" value of blank dics lifted by a dishonest employee (not that I'm even slightly suggesting your mam would be one) could be tempting, and this could provide evidence of light-fingering.

Originally posted by hotphil
I'd be surprised if that is the case - a camera/laser that can read a barcode through laminated glass as cars go by? Any laser would surely pose a heatlth risk and cameras would be unlikely to get such a high definition image.
Much more likely to be OCR on the numberplate I'd suggest. Relatively easy.
I thought the barcodes were there to so that when the dreaded Post Office sells you the disc, they scan it and it's "linked" to the vehicle, or even just records that it's legitimately be issued. I dare say the "street" value of blank dics lifted by a dishonest employee (not that I'm even slightly suggesting your mam would be one) could be tempting, and this could provide evidence of light-fingering.

I could be wrong......but that was my understanding of what happened? :suspect:

There was one early last week on ecclesall road, i did let you all know honest x

It says in The Star tonight that it is part of a government funded scheme to track cars of known criminals. If you're on THAT database I wouldn't worry about an expired tax disc.

i didn't know this

Originally posted by MarkB
Can I just say that untaxed does not mean uninsured! It doesn't void your insurance.

if you didn't have an MOT then you would void your insurance.

yes i am getting my tax sorted in the next week once i get paid but i am insured and have got a valid MOT.

Just thought i would correct you.
You are technically insured without tax,but if you have an accident your insurance company will not pay out,as your car is not legal,therefore it shouldn't be on the road in the 1st place.
So in effect an untaxed car is uninsured,you have an accident and you will have to pay out yourself,you injure someone in your untaxed car,or worst still kill someone who pays out?
And how do you afford compensation if you can't afford tax?
Sounds harsh i know,after all it's only road tax,i confess iv'e gone without it for a few days,but have an accident and your stuffed,in reality it makes someone without road tax the same sort of risk as a joyrider hitting you.

Originally posted by deano
You are technically insured without tax,but if you have an accident your insurance company will not pay out,as your car is not legal,therefore it shouldn't be on the road in the 1st place.
As I understand it, in the circumstances you describe the insurance company may refuse to pay for the damage to the drivers car (should he have comprehensive insurance) but will pay the losses of the third party as required by the Road Traffic Act 1998. As the RTA requires a minimum of third party cover this explains why untaxed drivers are not prosecuted for driving without insurance.

If this were not the case then insurers would be able to wriggle out of paying third party claims by finding any fault with the vehicle, such as a blown indicator bulb, and then claiming the vehicle was unroadworthy.

The same principal applies when the driver is drunk. Victims of drunk drivers are still able to claim on the drunk drivers insurance even though the driver was driving illegally at the time of the accident.

The above is not legal advice. I am not a lawyer. :)

Lets take a leaf out of the law of Medieval England.......if you were caught riding a horse by the Medieval police and you were not a forester or given permission by the Lord of the Manor, it was certain you would be dropped straight into a dark damp hole called a dungeon and left to rot for a few months. If you were caught theiving you would probably get one hand chopped off, sometimes an eye removed if caught stealing horses or the Kings deer, as an incentive that theft was a pretty naff idea....


Wonder what effect this would have on the population of Pitsmoor, Manor, etc, if you apply this old law to cars without tax......after all it IS illegal.

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Lets take a leaf out of the law of Medieval England.......if you were caught riding a horse by the Medieval police and you were not a forester or given permission by the Lord of the Manor, it was certain you would be dropped straight into a dark damp hole called a dungeon and left to rot for a few months. If you were caught theiving you would probably get one hand chopped off, sometimes an eye removed if caught stealing horses or the Kings deer, as an incentive that theft was a pretty naff idea....


Wonder what effect this would have on the population of Pitsmoor, Manor, etc, if you apply this old law to cars without tax......after all it IS illegal.

This brings me onto silly things that are (apparently) still law. Things like you have to have a bell on your bicycle and it is still legal to shoot a welshman in york town square on a sunday with a crossbow i believe....

when can you get a new tax disk, does it have to be the same day as it runs out ? or can you do it a week before

After the 15th of the expiry month on the disc.

you might be right, but i'd disagree with the point about wriggling.

A car is roadworthy legally if it has an MOT, so they wouldn't be able to avoid paying in the way you suggest.

Originally posted by InvalidUser
As I understand it, in the circumstances you describe the insurance company may refuse to pay for the damage to the drivers car (should he have comprehensive insurance) but will pay the losses of the third party as required by the Road Traffic Act 1998. As the RTA requires a minimum of third party cover this explains why untaxed drivers are not prosecuted for driving without insurance.

If this were not the case then insurers would be able to wriggle out of paying third party claims by finding any fault with the vehicle, such as a blown indicator bulb, and then claiming the vehicle was unroadworthy.

The same principal applies when the driver is drunk. Victims of drunk drivers are still able to claim on the drunk drivers insurance even though the driver was driving illegally at the time of the accident.

The above is not legal advice. I am not a lawyer. :)

The DVLA set-up was back in Broomhill this morning (23/3).

PARKED ILLEGALLY OFCAUSE.:rant:

call the police and tell them theres a car illegaly parked causing problems

Originally posted by Lickszz
I thought this was all logged on the computer now and if you don't declare off road you get a fine? This process seems pointless

Pointless as it may be, it generates Joe public picking up the bill and Tony and his mates all get richer while we all get poorer..so whether it's pointless or not is none of our concern...pay your tax and then as a result of your good behaviour your tax will go up every year to benefit those amongst us who don't...

Anybody who believes this to be un-fair take it up with another country cos the british government don't really care...afterall, if you were born in this country or if not you may hold a valid british passport then you are a minority and the government don't care about you...!!!

Originally posted by BobDaBuilder
Pointless as it may be, it generates Joe public picking up the bill and Tony and his mates all get richer while we all get poorer..so whether it's pointless or not is none of our concern...pay your tax and then as a result of your good behaviour your tax will go up every year to benefit those amongst us who don't...

Anybody who believes this to be un-fair take it up with another country cos the british government don't really care...afterall, if you were born in this country or if not you may hold a valid british passport then you are a minority and the government don't care about you...!!!

Did you read the thread before posting?

There's more than one reason they read number plates. If you need to have it explained to you, please go back and re-read the thread.

I'm quite aware of why they stop cars thanks......just trying to point out that being all over Sheffield is a complete waste of tax payers money, not a bad idea once in a blue moon without warning but on a regular basis...?????

Just thought i'd point out to you that I can actually read unlike some of the un-educated car theiving, jobless, scag-head scum that live in this city...

Originally posted by BobDaBuilder
I'm quite aware of why they stop cars thanks......just trying to point out that being all over Sheffield is a complete waste of tax payers money, not a bad idea once in a blue moon without warning but on a regular basis...?????

Just thought i'd point out to you that I can actually read unlike some of the un-educated car theiving, jobless, scag-head scum that live in this city...

Perhaps you don't understand why it's needed on a regular basis, or maybe you just don't care.

People have no tax, they've declared their cars as SORN, and yet continue to drive them. They have no tax, and therefore insurance is invalid. If they crash, they aren't covered, and therefore you aren't covered.

On top of that they're breaking the law. They get a fine, the fine goes to the DVLA, the DVLA pay for the officers who are doing the work. It will be self-funding and it won't use tax payers money, and the tax money it uses, is for a good cause.

If they've bought the kit at huge expense I'd be upset if it WASN'T being used on a regular basis. I like value for money for my tax money.

Originally posted by Cyclone
A car is roadworthy legally if it has an MOT, so they wouldn't be able to avoid paying in the way you suggest.
With respect, that's simply not true. An MOT shows that a vehicle was roadworthy at the time and date it was tested.

Since that date the brake pipes could have developed a leak, the tyres could have worn below the legal minimum or any number of safety related faults could have developed.

It's common practise for insurance companies to inspect vehicles involved in accidents in order to limit or reduce their liability.

Originally posted by InvalidUser
With respect, that's simply not true. An MOT shows that a vehicle was roadworthy at the time and date it was tested.

Since that date the brake pipes could have developed a leak, the tyres could have worn below the legal minimum or any number of safety related faults could have developed.

It's common practise for insurance companies to inspect vehicles involved in accidents in order to limit or reduce their liability.

unless the driver should reasonably be aware that it is no longer road worthy then it doesn't matter what they check.
Of course tyres are something that you should check yourself on a regular basis, so that might be a reason for them to limit liability.

Are there 2 lots of police scanning motorists' number plates? I only ask, 'cos the one mentioned in the first post was the one reported in last night's Star which is being used to spot stolen cars and those belonging to known criminals.

How much is car tax at this time?

Originally posted by BobDaBuilder
Pointless as it may be, it generates Joe public picking up the bill and Tony and his mates all get richer while we all get poorer..

Slightly off the original topic i know but...

As far as i know, "Tony and his mates" don't actually draw a salary based on the amount of tax discs purchased. :loopy:

-PK-

Originally posted by buck
How much is car tax at this time?

depends on engine size, I think it changes at 1.4ltrs, above that it's £90 for 6 months or £165 for a year.

Anyone coming to Skegness for Easter will no doubt see plenty of these vans,Lincolshire is full of them especially skeggy at holiday times!!!

Looks like this kind of thing is to be a permanent feature on our roads...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/leaders/story/0,3604,1445260,00.html

...and no doubt every recorded number will go into a permanently held database with a note of date, time and location.

Police in Leeds yesterday had a bumper crop of miscreants while they were doing a clampdown on car drivers using the bus lanes.

Apart from all the on-the-spot £30 fines, they had a good haul of illegal drivers, tax, insurance and MOT violations etc, - several stolen cars and a few crims they had been after for a while, plus some stashes of illegal drugs.

About 50 fewer cars on the roads in Leeds today ;)

Just one or two points. I am lead to understand that the MOT certificate is only valid on the day of issue as a fault could develope on the car later. When you think about it ,it was ok on the day of test but how often have youheard of cars being pessed at one testing station and failed at another. I had my car failed at one and passed at another. The tester told me that some stations work it as a con hoping that you will have the fictisious repairs done there.
In Leeds yesterday the police were fining drivers for being in bus lanes. Most drivers said it was a faircop but the number of untaxed banned from driving outstand charges and the second car they stopped had load of cannabis in it so these purges do not only catch the driver but sometimes the criminals.


By the way it was President Kennedy who said Ich bin einer Berliner

Have look at this

http/www.e-database.co.uk

From the sound of it these traps are quite a cheap and efficient way of catching all sorts of criminals!
:thumbsup:

An MOT certificate is an indication of a vehicle's roadworthiness at that point in time. You can be prosecuted for having an unroadworthy vehicle at any time.
And I'm all for untaxed/dangerous vehicles being off the road.

i would be happy if the police pulled everybody over, and checked details,
might get all the uninsured, tax dogeing, child killing scum off the street.
more power to the traffic cops

if you drive into meadowhall, they scan ya numberplate, cross-match it against it against the national database of insurance and and tax and if it fails both criteriea, post a letter to your house and have done. apparantly every entrance to meadowhall is covered so there is no escape!!!

Originally posted by bigflesh
if you drive into meadowhall, they scan ya numberplate, cross-match it against it against the national database of insurance and and tax and if it fails both criteriea, post a letter to your house and have done. apparantly every entrance to meadowhall is covered so there is no escape!!!

I did some work for a chap in Dronfield, who company makes these camera's.

He told me they had sold some to Meadowhall to record the registration details of all vehicle entering and leaving the site for security purposes and also it lets them know how many vehicles are in the car parks.

I can see Meadowhall having numberplate recognition/recording for security, but would be surprised and alarmed if the Meadowhall security guards have got access to data that can tell them if a vehicle is insured/taxed!
I know for a small fee the DVLA will divulge name/address details, but insurance and tax for every vehicle going there too? I'm not convinced.

as yet there is no national insurance database, if there was do you think we'd need to take a cover note to the post office when we went to buy a tax disc.
In the longer term there will be, but it's still under development.

Originally posted by steevie/d
ive got no sympathy with you its not o.k to drive a untaxed car on the public hyway you are breaking the law of the land and you deserve all you get and they will back date the tax so if i was you i would start saving your pennies :rant:

I agree, but i do find it funny that so many of you agree with these cameras but not speed cameras. You are still breaking the law when you speed.

(Its been done far too many times elsewhere, no reply needed)

Originally posted by fuzzy
I agree, but i do find it funny that so many of you agree with these cameras but not speed cameras. You are still breaking the law when you speed.

(Its been done far too many times elsewhere, no reply needed)

ermmm - don't say it if you don't want replies... See my other posts on the subject and consider it my reply.