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More motorists prosecuted for not having car tax, after paper tax disc is scrapped (1 July 2015)

Date: 01/07/2015
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, More motorists prosecuted for not having car tax, after paper tax disc is scrapped

Changes from the paper tax disc to electronic records have resulted in thousands of motorists being prosecuted for not having car tax.

Prosecutions have risen by nearly one-third after paper tax discs were scrapped, the Daily Mail reports.

The rise in the number of prosecutions is being attributed to confusion over the new car tax methods – including the new regulation that car tax must be renewed when a car is sold; while some motorists have forgotten to renew their tax online because there is now no tax disc on their windscreen to remind them.

Driving an untaxed vehicle on the public highway is a criminal offence, however – motorists who drive without being taxed could face a maximum fine of £1,000.

Motoring organisation the AA said that the DVLA had been “too quick” to penalise motorists after the changes to car tax were introduced.

Auto Express has obtained figures which show there were 117,490 prosecutions or enforcement cases between October 2014 and March 2015.

In the previous two six-month periods when the paper tax disc was still in use, there were 82,999 and 86,939 prosecutions, respectively.

The number of out-of-court settlements issued to drivers without road tax has also nearly doubled since the paper tax disc was scrapped, increasing from 53,799 in the six months from April to September 2014, to 97,348 settlements in the six months from October 2014 to March 2015.

Paul Waters from the AA said that a lot of motorists were being “unfairly criminalised” as a result of the change from a paper tax disc to an electronic car tax database.

Chief executive of the DVLA, Oliver Morley, said:

“Ending vehicle tax at the point of sale is a consumer protection measure to prevent used car buyers unknowingly buying an untaxed vehicle which they believe to be taxed.
“Previously, two-thirds of all used vehicles were sold without tax – so it is no different for the majority of motorists.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors – Motoring Offences

Duncan Lewis can advise at any stage of a charge involving motoring offences, including driving without car tax, driving while banned or without a licence, or driving while uninsured.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station within 45 minutes to advise on motoring offences.

For expert legal advice on criminal charges – including motoring offences – call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.


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