• Welcome to the LegalBeagles Consumer and Legal Forum.
    Please Register to get the most out of the forum. Registration is free and only needs a username and email address.
    REGISTER
    Please do not post your full name, reference numbers or any identifiable details on the forum.

Traders watch out DVLA are about

Collapse
Loading...
X
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • #16
    Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

    HI BB

    This is a response from the DVLA obtained under a freedom of informarion act request about the subject it would indicate that clamping on a driveway is not allowed.

    19 May 2009
    Dear Mr Canning

    Thank you for your e-mail of 7 May 2009 which contains a request under
    the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 relating to wheel clamping
    regulations.

    Please note that although the request has been received via the Freedom
    of Information (FOI) e-mail address, the request falls outside the FOIA
    and will be dealt with as “business as usual”.

    The DVLA’s powers to clamp and impound unlicensed vehicles are catered
    for in legislation and Statutory Instruments. The Vehicle Excise Duty
    (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997 as
    amended provide for the immobilisation, removal and disposal of
    unlicensed vehicles on the public road.

    From 1 October 2008 unlicensed vehicles can be wheel clamped and/or
    impounded even if kept off the public road, but there are important
    exceptions to the new powers. It remains an offence to keep an
    unlicensed vehicle on a public road. The change is that enforcement
    action can now be taken off road (subject to exceptions) where
    previously it could not.

    The onus is on the keeper of a vehicle to ensure that the appropriate
    tax disc has been obtained and is displayed on the corresponding vehicle
    or Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declaration made to the
    Agency. Any vehicle with a SORN declaration must be kept on private land
    and not used on the public road until the appropriate tax disc has been
    obtained and is displayed on the vehicle related vehicle.

    This position has not changed following the introduction of expanded
    enforcement powers and a vehicle that has a valid SORN in force can
    still be kept off road. There is no change to the SORN legislation; a
    vehicle kept off the public road with a valid SORN in force is fully
    compliant therefore no enforcement action will be taken against it.
    However, where there is reason to believe the SORN has been breached the
    vehicle can be wheelclamped or impounded.

    The exceptions to the expanded enforcement powers state that vehicles
    parked on land associated with a house or a block of flats cannot be
    wheel clamped or impounded. This applies for example, to private
    driveways, garages and allocated parking bays. Also vehicles kept by a
    motor trader or vehicle tester at a business premise cannot be
    wheelclamped or impounded.

    As you have not provided the vehicle registration number of the vehicle
    in question then I am only able to provide a general reply to your
    question concerning the removal of a written-off vehicle from private
    land. Should you want a more specific answer then you will need to
    provide the vehicle registration number.

    However, I should explain that where a vehicle has been declared a write
    off and kept off the public highway, in such circumstances and dependant
    on whether the vehicle was to be made road worthy once again, the Agency
    would expect the keeper of the vehicle to submit a SORN declaration or
    having made the vehicle road worthy, license the vehicle for future use

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

      Originally posted by Mr.Peterbard View Post
      HI BB

      This is a response from the DVLA obtained under a freedom of informarion act request about the subject it would indicate that clamping on a driveway is not allowed.

      19 May 2009
      Dear Mr Canning

      Thank you for your e-mail of 7 May 2009 which contains a request under
      the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 relating to wheel clamping
      regulations.

      Please note that although the request has been received via the Freedom
      of Information (FOI) e-mail address, the request falls outside the FOIA
      and will be dealt with as “business as usual”.

      The DVLA’s powers to clamp and impound unlicensed vehicles are catered
      for in legislation and Statutory Instruments. The Vehicle Excise Duty
      (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997 as
      amended provide for the immobilisation, removal and disposal of
      unlicensed vehicles on the public road.

      From 1 October 2008 unlicensed vehicles can be wheel clamped and/or
      impounded even if kept off the public road, but there are important
      exceptions to the new powers. It remains an offence to keep an
      unlicensed vehicle on a public road. The change is that enforcement
      action can now be taken off road (subject to exceptions) where
      previously it could not.

      The onus is on the keeper of a vehicle to ensure that the appropriate
      tax disc has been obtained and is displayed on the corresponding vehicle
      or Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declaration made to the
      Agency. Any vehicle with a SORN declaration must be kept on private land
      and not used on the public road until the appropriate tax disc has been
      obtained and is displayed on the vehicle related vehicle.

      This position has not changed following the introduction of expanded
      enforcement powers and a vehicle that has a valid SORN in force can
      still be kept off road. There is no change to the SORN legislation; a
      vehicle kept off the public road with a valid SORN in force is fully
      compliant therefore no enforcement action will be taken against it.
      However, where there is reason to believe the SORN has been breached the
      vehicle can be wheelclamped or impounded.

      The exceptions to the expanded enforcement powers state that vehicles
      parked on land associated with a house or a block of flats cannot be
      wheel clamped or impounded. This applies for example, to private
      driveways, garages and allocated parking bays. Also vehicles kept by a
      motor trader or vehicle tester at a business premise cannot be
      wheelclamped or impounded.

      As you have not provided the vehicle registration number of the vehicle
      in question then I am only able to provide a general reply to your
      question concerning the removal of a written-off vehicle from private
      land. Should you want a more specific answer then you will need to
      provide the vehicle registration number.

      However, I should explain that where a vehicle has been declared a write
      off and kept off the public highway, in such circumstances and dependant
      on whether the vehicle was to be made road worthy once again, the Agency
      would expect the keeper of the vehicle to submit a SORN declaration or
      having made the vehicle road worthy, license the vehicle for future use
      Hi Peter,

      Many thanks for reproducing the FOI disclosure and posting it on the thread. What is contained within it bears out what the DVLA Vehicle Licensing Department told me the other day, i.e. that a vehicle that has been transferred to a motor trader does not have to be taxed or have a SORN in force. This is due to the fact, vehicles transferred to a motor trader are not registered to the motor trader. Therefore, the clamping and seizure of the vehicles in Galahad's post are not only ultra vires, the actions of the DVLA contractor and its employees may well amount to Fraud by False Misrepresentation, contrary to Section 2(1), Fraud Act 2006, as they have made false statements as to law (which can be deliberate or reckless). It may even amount to Theft, contrary to Section 1, Theft Act 1968, as there is an intention to permanently deprive, even though it may be only of a temporary nature. Acting ultra vires simply compounds this. The police could, now, seize the contractor's vehicles on suspicion of them being used in the commission on a criminal offence or offences.

      BB
      Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

        Originally posted by bluebottle View Post
        Hi Peter,

        Many thanks for reproducing the FOI disclosure and posting it on the thread. What is contained within it bears out what the DVLA Vehicle Licensing Department told me the other day, i.e. that a vehicle that has been transferred to a motor trader does not have to be taxed or have a SORN in force. This is due to the fact, vehicles transferred to a motor trader are not registered to the motor trader. Therefore, the clamping and seizure of the vehicles in Galahad's post are not only ultra vires, the actions of the DVLA contractor and its employees may well amount to Fraud by False Misrepresentation, contrary to Section 2(1), Fraud Act 2006, as they have made false statements as to law (which can be deliberate or reckless). It may even amount to Theft, contrary to Section 1, Theft Act 1968, as there is an intention to permanently deprive, even though it may be only of a temporary nature. Acting ultra vires simply compounds this. The police could, now, seize the contractor's vehicles on suspicion of them being used in the commission on a criminal offence or offences.

        BB
        HI BB

        Yes it also confirms that cars should not be clampled whilst they on your drive, taxed sorned or not.

        Peter

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

          Originally posted by Mr.Peterbard View Post
          HI BB

          Yes it also confirms that cars should not be clampled whilst they on your drive, taxed sorned or not.

          Peter
          Hi Peter,

          Many thanks again. It certainly appears that VEAS, the DVLA contractor Galahad mentions, are, indeed, acting ultra vires. Galahad has said the local police are clueless as to what is going on. That situation may well change shortly. I do know, from my own experience in the police force, that any vehicle used or suspected of having been used in the commission of a criminal offence or offences can be seized by the police. Wouldn't it be a hoot if VEAS had their vans and tow trucks seized by the police?

          Once again, many thanks, Peter.

          BB
          Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

            Just run some checks on VEAS, DVLA's contractor. It appears they have a history of clamping and seizing vehicles on private land when they shouldn't. Incompetent isn't the word.

            Motorist fuming after officials clamped car - then checked if he was breaking the law | This is Gloucestershire
            Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

              Originally posted by bluebottle View Post
              Just run some checks on VEAS, DVLA's contractor. It appears they have a history of clamping and seizing vehicles on private land when they shouldn't. Incompetent isn't the word.

              Motorist fuming after officials clamped car - then checked if he was breaking the law | This is Gloucestershire
              I suppose it is all about knowing your rights.

              I was watching a program on the TV the other day where a bailiff was bemoning his loss of income due to ,"those damn information forums".

              I think a lot of the time people are well aware of the law but are just cashing in on others ignorance.

              Peter

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                Originally posted by Mr.Peterbard View Post
                I suppose it is all about knowing your rights.

                I was watching a program on the TV the other day where a bailiff was bemoning his loss of income due to ,"those damn information forums".

                I think a lot of the time people are well aware of the law but are just cashing in on others ignorance.

                Peter
                LOL! I think you may well be right there, Peter! I think it just goes to prove how effective forums, such as Legal Beagles, are in combating bent bailiffs and dodgy debt collection agencies.

                The latest on Galahad's original post - I've just spoken to DVLA's Wheelclamping Helpline at Swansea and they have given me an email address for anyone who is targeted by these goons. The email address is wheelclamping.complaints@dvla.gsi.gov.uk. This will stop VEAS carrying out any further enforcement action whilst DVLA are sorting things out.

                BB
                Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                  I've set up an E-petition to force the DfT to terminate VEAS's contract and return enforcement of untaxed and uninsured vehicles to DVLA's in-house staff, not private contractors. Wait 7 days for it to be checked before viewing/signing.
                  Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                    LATEST NEWS ON E-PETITION

                    As of this morning, the e-petition to terminate VEAS's contract and return enforcement to the DVLA's own staff is available to sign.

                    If you wish to sign the e-petition, please go to http://www.epetitions.direct.gov.uk and put the words "DVLA contractor" into the search engine. This will bring up the relevant e-petition.

                    Please circulate the above link and make as many people as possible know about the e-petition and ask them to sign.
                    Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                      Hi BB

                      The link does not take you to the epettitions but I did find it and have signed it.

                      I have a client who is a Motor Trader so I would hate for these people to come and upset him.

                      The Epetition is available until 22/3/2012

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                        Duly signed by self, wife and MIL.

                        Goldfish and Guinea Pig unable to, though.

                        Hopefully, this link takes you straight there:

                        Termination of DVLA Enforcement Contractor's Contract - e-petitions

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                          signed

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                            Actually, it's open until 22/3/2013. The e-petition to require police to treat bailiff misconduct as crime and not civil matters is now live and available to view and sign until 22/3/2013.
                            Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                              Many thanks, Bill and Peter. I'm plugging this e-petition with CAG and Bailiff Advice Online to get as many people as possible to sign. As soon as the signature tally hits 100,000, it triggers a debate in the House of Commons. Many thanks once again.

                              There are also two e-petitions to crack down on bailiff/HCEO misconduct and police inaction. One is sponsored by me, the other by Eric Randall. Please encourage as many people as possible to sign these two, please. I will be starting a new thread to specifically promote these e-petitons.
                              Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: Traders watch out DVLA are about

                                Sorted
                                CAVEAT LECTOR

                                This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

                                You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
                                Cohen, Herb


                                There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
                                gets his brain a-going.
                                Phelps, C. C.


                                "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
                                The last words of John Sedgwick

                                Comment

                                View our Terms and Conditions

                                LegalBeagles Group uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to create a secure and effective website. By using this website, you are consenting to such use.To find out more and learn how to manage cookies please read our Cookie and Privacy Policy.

                                If you would like to opt in, or out, of receiving news and marketing from LegalBeagles Group Ltd you can amend your settings at any time here.


                                If you would like to cancel your registration please Contact Us. We will delete your user details on request, however, any previously posted user content will remain on the site with your username removed and 'Guest' inserted.
                                Working...
                                X