SORN - what counts as "public road"?

EvilRob · 30 Jan 2017 at 10:41

The car below has not moved for around a year. For the first 8 months or so it was not MOT'd or taxed. Now it's showing as SORN (no MOT).

Does this count as a public road? I think so but not sure, as the parking space is built into the pavement.

It is pretty annoying that this car is taking up a public space - all the houses on that side have secured private parking spaces they can use.

tom_e · 30 Jan 2017 at 10:44

in a garage
on a drive
on private land

From the look of the road it may well be unadopted as is the case with a lot of new estates although I'm not sure where that comes in terms of "private land", although at a guess I'd say that's not being kept in the correct place to be SORN.

Edit: Section 7 http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00402/SN00402.pdf it appears that even if the road is unadopted then you can still be clamped for no VED so it seems sensible to assume that you also can't keep a SORN car on one.

Siliconslave · 30 Jan 2017 at 10:50

report it and see, what's the worst that can happen?

EvilRob · 30 Jan 2017 at 10:52

Siliconslave said:
report it and see, what's the worst that can happen?

Reported several months ago before it was SORN'd.

Nasher · 30 Jan 2017 at 10:52

Hmm but are the parking spaces "public road"? Sometimes they aren't.

If it's a brand new estate the developers might be able to do something since they may still own the land.

paradigm · 30 Jan 2017 at 10:53

I guess it depends entirely on if that "layby" is in the deeds of the house, or is part of the highway.

If the former then it's technically their "driveway".

Phate · 30 Jan 2017 at 11:04

So you've already reported it? not much else you can do except report it again?

Siliconslave · 30 Jan 2017 at 11:07

If you know owns it make up an official looking warning letter and post it to them

c1tro · 30 Jan 2017 at 11:14

Did you report to the police or council? Have you seen any suspicious activity - could be easily used to store/hide lots of things

tom_e · 30 Jan 2017 at 11:16

c1tro said:
could be easily used to store/hide lots of things

Better report anyone with a shed or a cupboard in their house while we're at it :confused:

c1tro · 30 Jan 2017 at 11:22

Cant move the house or the shed so wouldn't think it would be the first option.

Jono · 30 Jan 2017 at 12:35

Bounce it into the road and report it.

Siliconslave · 30 Jan 2017 at 13:18

Jono said:
Bounce it into the road and report it.

trolley jacks in the middle of the night

EvilRob · 30 Jan 2017 at 16:36

Phate said:
So you've already reported it? not much else you can do except report it again?

Indeed, I will report it again. I hope that it goes this time. You don't receive any feedback after you make reports so no way to know what was done.

EvilRob · 30 Jan 2017 at 16:36

Siliconslave said:
trolley jacks in the middle of the night

Tempting...

Phate · 30 Jan 2017 at 16:38

It surprises me it bothers you so much but oh well, everyone is different.

EvilRob · 30 Jan 2017 at 16:49

Phate said:
It surprises me it bothers you so much but oh well, everyone is different.

Parking is a bit of an issue around here, however every house has either a driveway or two secured car parking space.

I would not abandon a car in a public space and I'd expect my neighbours to show the same courtesy to me and each other.

In that light, I'd prefer it gone, however it doesn't bother me all that much - I've only reported it once and it's been there 12 months or so

danlightbulb · 30 Jan 2017 at 16:59

Reporting to the DVLA as untaxed is a waste of time. See if your local council has a way to report abandoned vehicles as they get dealt with faster that way.

Rich1988 · 30 Jan 2017 at 17:40

danlightbulb said:
Reporting to the DVLA as untaxed is a waste of time. See if your local council has a way to report abandoned vehicles as they get dealt with faster that way.

This!

Philz0r · 30 Jan 2017 at 17:58

is that south shields?