Tax Disc Fine - Advice welcome

D33 · 14 Apr 2008 at 11:43

Hey,

Came out to my car today to see that yesterday morning some PCSO has placed a fine on my car. Unfortunately it took me a while to make it out because the stupid idiot didn't seal the plastic enclosure correctly and the ticket was soaked in a small shower we had earlier today.

Anyway. It's a £60 fine for not displaying a Tax Disc. Sure enough I looked at my car and said tax disc was not stuck to my windscreen. It was, however, clearly visible from both driver and passenger side windows as it lay in the passenger side footwell, where it had fallen.

The person who fined me obviously didn't bother to look and on top of this I thought they had the ability to track all tax through computers thesedays? A quick phonecall would have revealed I'm not a tax dodger.

I know the law states that a Tax Disc must on be display but this was an honest mistake that I was not aware of at the time. The disc fell off, it happens.

Does anyone know what my chances are of appealing this?

Failing that, getting it reduced from a £60 fine to a "more reasonable" £30 fine? Paying £60 for being the victim of adhesion failure after paying my tax like a good boy is a bit of a slap in the face.

Justintime · 14 Apr 2008 at 11:54

I think the fine is for not displaying it properly, not evading tax. Even a legit mistake can cost you and you just got unlucky.

Maybe try fighting it though i doubt they'd let their 60 quid coffee money go so easily. Childkiller!

Overlag · 14 Apr 2008 at 11:55

at least gordon brown can have his fish and chips tonight

Defcon5 · 14 Apr 2008 at 12:23

A PCSO does not have the power under PRA 2002 to issue tickets for that offence.

Is it the long white ticket? Can you scan it at all?

timbob · 14 Apr 2008 at 12:28

Did you take a picture from outside the car through the window with the tax disc readable down in the footwell?

Defcon5 · 14 Apr 2008 at 12:30

timbob said:
Did you take a picture from outside the car through the window with the tax disc readable down in the footwell?

He cant prove it was there at the time of issuing the ticket so there is no point

D33 · 14 Apr 2008 at 12:39

Defcon5 said:
A PCSO does not have the power under PRA 2002 to issue tickets for that offence.

Is it the long white ticket? Can you scan it at all?

Yeah it was issued by a PCSO and it's a long pink ticket

Defcon5 · 14 Apr 2008 at 12:53

Dont know which one that is, but either way I dont think its valid since the PCSO has no authority to issue it.

I may be wrong however, but nowhere in the PRA or SOCA does it say they can be given out by a CSO.

Can you post a pic of it?

DB_SamX · 14 Apr 2008 at 13:59

Defcon5 said:
Dont know which one that is, but either way I dont think its valid since the PCSO has no authority to issue it.

If no one can give a definite answer here, you could try http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences/

Lopéz · 14 Apr 2008 at 19:42

Failure to Display, in this super duper technology rich "Big Brother knows all" age - what a load of crap

mattpc · 14 Apr 2008 at 19:46

Lopéz said:
Failure to Display, in this super duper technology rich "Big Brother knows all" age - what a load of crap

I'm with you there its pathetic really. It is no wonder that most people dont have a very high opinion of the police when the publics money slapping fines like this on drivers. I understand that it is good practise to scrutinise vehicles and often those committing road traffic offences are often involved in other crime but if they had investigated and run the plate thru their database they should have found that the car was taxed, insured etc. Perhaps the officers in question didn't have access to that facility and were just too excited at the thought of issuing a petty ticket.