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Ok, so this isnt actually a retro related thread but I feel if 1 can save at least one person from going through what ive had to then its worth posting. Driving back from my girlfriends at 1 am this morning minding my own business, not speeding, taxed, mot'ed, and insured yet I get pulled over. Its quite a common occurance this as I have a traders policy and the wonderful old ANPR camersare forever flagging up cars that I drive as not being insured. Anyhoo, I keep copies of all my documents on me and I present them to the officer who then goes off to check everything. He returns to great me with the news that my license is no longer valid as the photo is 1 week over 10 years old and therefore should have been surrendered to be issued with a new one. He then informs me that because of this, my insurance isnt valid and so they seized my car. He then tells me that I should get along to the holding yard today to avoid storage charges, even though its still gonna cost me £150 to get the car back. Oh and my license isnt valid until I send in a new photo and some more money etc so I have to find another driver. So this morning I have to route around my friends to find someone insured to drive it and off we go to the police staion to get the forn stamped. That was a major saga as they didnt like the fact that my friends isurance was up for renewal in 10 days but hey eventually agreed and stamped my form. So then I have have to make the 25 mile trip to Stevenage to get my car back armed with my £150, just to arrive to see a sign on the gate saying Monday to Friday only. So here I am through no fault of my own with no car and no license for a week until my new one is processed. I can get my car back monday but I will have to pay and additional £40 for 2 days storage even though thats just because they arent open. I like alot of people seem to be getting caught out like this so maybe an idea to have a quick check up. I'm a mechanic and I run my own garage and not being able to drive for a week is gonna be very disruptive and I would hate for anyone else to have to go through it. Rant over.
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Sounds decidedly iffy to me.
I can't believe that you get your car impounded and you get so heavily penalised for being a couple of days over getting a phot-card renewed. The license shouldn't be invalidated for that, surely? You are still licensed, from start to finish unless suspended on medical or disqualification grounds.
Here's a 'what if': If you move house and send your docs away for updating, as you should, are then effectively 'banned' from driving till the new one comes back? What about if your paper docs are being updated by the courts for adding/removing sp30's etc?
Also, I know you are supposed to carry your photo license.... but to the rules on producers not apply now? (I never carry mine)
I would be checking very thoroughly.
Did you recieve a reminder that you needed to update the photocard?
If not this seems all the more stupid, and I'd be hounding the DVLA and this overzealous police office to hell and back.
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Gray
Part of things
Silence isnt golden!!!
Posts: 742
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I think I would be writing out an official complaint about this one
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dugong
Posted a lot
One Of Us Will Live To Rue The Day We Met Each Other (Wire : 2008)
Posts: 3,292
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I think I would be writing out an official complaint about this one Seconded. That's f**king ridiculous.
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Nightmare! I'd foam at the mouth if that happened to me (I'm in the same job as you as well) Seems a bit harsh for an expired photocard.. I'm pretty sure my policy says "holds a valid driving licence, or is not disqualified from obtaining one", an out of date licence doesn't invalidate your insurance, I'm pretty sure of that. You are still qualified to drive the vehicle, and therefore still insurable
Also, according to an "inside source" I was just chatting to, police are now being advised to only impound cars where there is definate proof of no insurance, or an admission of such from the driver. Definate proof means phoning the insurance company and checking, basically. My policy is to not back down, insist (politely) that I am acting within the law, and invite them to check up before proceeding. Means that the last time I got a producer for documents when their initial pitch was "we're having your car, sonny" even though I had no ID on me, the car wasn't in my name and they couldn't find it on the MID.
I'm off to check the date on my photocard, lol....
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
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Unbelievable, I think that's totally unfair. Is it any wonder the police have a bad reputation? I still have ye olde paper license. I suppose I'd be hauled in and held without charge for months if they ever saw that one. With ID cards attempting to be sneaked through parliament we'll have similar problems with those too. That can still be stopped though. Sickening.
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Last Edit: Nov 8, 2008 16:35:53 GMT by BenzBoy
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What I'm gonna do is just get my license back before i start making too much noise about it. Pull the lions tail and it might bite you so they say.
I'm so gutted, i have never had a conviction on my license and being told i cant drive is like someone telling me i cant have my legs. I guess thats what you call taking somehting for granted.
I feel that i was just a statistic, needed to make up some number for the evening whilst all the theives and muggers had the night off.
Hey ho, such is life i guess.
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Akira
Part of things
Posts: 136
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You'll need to check item 4b on the front of your photocard licence. The back shows your entitlements but the front shows when that particular card runs out.
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boo
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Never heard anything so daft...
What year does your license run out?
I'd be taking legal advice and kicking up a stink if I were you..
Are they going to do you for no insurance then?
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Bumhats Glad I've still got my paper one... although of course not having a photo driving license or a passport does mean that in today's 'computer says no' world, I don't actually exist... ;D
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... the only injury I sustained was a bumped head when I let the seatbelt of without realizing the car was upside down and that's not really the car's fault.
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Bumhats Glad I've still got my paper one... although of course not having a photo driving license or a passport does mean that in today's 'computer says no' world, I don't actually exist... ;D That's probably a good thing - you won't be found on a memory stick in a pub carpark somewhere. ;D
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And the 'Boys In Blue' wonder why the general public has lost all respect for them. Twunts. Maybe the donut shop was closed or his panties were irritating him.
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Last Edit: Nov 8, 2008 16:55:25 GMT by rhubarb
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murran
Part of things
Posts: 610
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jesus. what a set of tossers the police are! is there any wonder joe public hold them with such low reguard!? id have gone off on one if it were me they were trying that caper on.
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DVLA websiteHere is the page on renewing the photocard. It says clearly that the PHOTO is only valid for 10 years (not the licence, that runs until you are 70 and it goes on to say that You can drive before you receive your licence as long as you: * have held a Great Britain or Northern Ireland licence issued since 1 January 1976 or another exchangeable licence * aren't disqualified from driving * haven't been refused a licence for medical reasons or for failing to comply with medical enquiries * wouldn't be refused a licence for medical reasons (if in doubt, check with your doctor) * keep to any special conditions which apply to the licence it also mentions you get a renewal "pack" two months before the card expires and they want £17.50 for the privilage of updating it for you.
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
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His arguement was that anything that meant i was technically driving illegally meant my insurance was void. I wish i was as clued up on it all as i am now as i would definately put up more of a fight. It the whole situation that annoys me so much. They have a third party private firm collecting and holding my car that charges what they like and only opens during office hours. Although they seem to be open for business when a call comes in to collect a car. It was heart renching having to look through a gate at my car sitting amongst a load of smashed, burnt and generally scrap cars.
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Really irritating when officious twits, who are after all public servants, and not THE LAW as they would like to believe make the rules up as they go along. I sincerely hope you had his badge number. A call to his senior officer would be the first move, letting him know that your second will be a call to the local newspapers. Should get things sorted PDQ.
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murran
Part of things
Posts: 610
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id print that page off and take it down the bacon shop....... get complaining! youve become one of the thousands of innocent people made to run round the houses by the police for a reason at all, other than the police are useless and don't even know the laws the're "enforcing"!
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Like has been said, I'd be seeking legal advice on this one.
I make a point of not producing my licence at the roadside, even if I have it with me. Like scaryoldcortina says, if they haven't seen the documentation then they have no evidence to get you with anything. I find you get a lot of traffic cops that are determined to get you for something from the word go. Most desk jockies that you see when you produce your docs are civilians, so just fill the forms in and send you on your way.
My license is 10 years old next year, so I'm off to check!
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1967 Morris Traveller 1971 Series IIA Land Rover 1991 Golf GL 4+e 1992 Corrado G60 1986 E28 BMW 528i
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I've just checked mine...there is a date on there (item 4b.) that might be an expiry but it's certainly not stating it as one.
Before this post I was unaware of it having an expiry date at all. I'd be asking some questions to the police, the DVLA and my insurance company.
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