A Solution to Theft of Motorcycle Tax-Disks?

[Blackal]

Just had one of my tax discs nicked, holder and all (too feckin' shiny for its own good )

I like the idea of scanning and printing a copy of the disc and keeping that on display, with the real item under the seat.

As mentioned previously - you'd need to dismantle the disc-holder to spot the difference.

Mmmm.......... Wonder how a crisp £50 note would reproduce?

Could be the answer to paying for the damn "Road Fund License" (Don't you just hate that feckin' term )

Al

 

[radrod]

What are you guys talking about? What is a tax disc? Show a picture.

 

[North]

What are you guys talking about? What is a tax disc? Show a picture.

It's a UK thing.

The vehicle licence (tax disc) explained:

Any vehicle used or kept on a public road in the United Kingdom is required, by law, to display a valid vehicle tax disc. A tax disc (also referred to as a vehicle licence or car tax) shows that you have paid the necessary vehicle tax (or vehicle excise duty) for your vehicle.

The purpose of vehicle tax
The tax disc is the first indicator to the police that the vehicle:

has the necessary test certificate (MOT)
is covered by third party insurance
vehicle tax has been paid
It also gives the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) the opportunity to check that the details shown on the vehicle register are up to date and accurate when the vehicle is re-taxed.


How long does a tax disc run for
A tax disc usually runs for 12 calendar months beginning on the first day of the month in which it was taken out. However, where the cost of vehicle tax exceeds £50, a six months tax disc can be purchased. If you are registering the vehicle for the first time in Great Britain, you can tax it for part of the month in which it is first registered, plus six or twelve months after that.

 

[Shurv]

I colour copy mine and stick it on the bike and keep the original in my wallet.Used to do it with my trail and enduro bikes as I was always pressure washing them and getting the discs soggy and un readable. Also cover it in clear tape before installing so it stays in one piece.

 

[radrod]

Ah i see, good explaination especially from a vancouverite

 

[WindyChuffer]

Get colour photocopy of VEL made and display this in the tax disc holder with the genuine one in your wallet. Technically illegal but I've never heard pf a copper who'd bother with allen keys and a spanner to dismantle the holder and examine it closely. Incidentally the VEL should be on the lefthand side of the bike in front of the forward edge of the saddle.

I am intrigued where the statement about the position of the VEL comes from as I can't find any reference to where the disc should be located as required by law on the DVLA website or on Google. As far as I can recall, the only instructions that come with the disc is to mount it on the windscreen, but then that clearly doesnt apply to a motorbike.... I reckon this is just a myth and that under UK law, the disc can be located *anywhere* on the bike...

Incidentally, I got a ticket for failing to display a valid tax disc when parked in London by the City Police. I was lazy and hadn't bothered to put the new one in, and I knew I was in the wrong. The copper could have done a PNC check to validated whether the bike was cosha (and probably did too), but he still issued me with a ticket.

Anyway, I wrote in to complain, saying that that the bike was taxed and what a waste of time this all was, and said I wasn't going to pay the £60 fine.

I got a letter back saying I had broken the law and if I didnt pay, they would take me to court.

I then wrote back challenging them to take me to court, commented that this would be a complete waste of police time and public money, and suggested that they have better things to be doing than pursuing a trivial offence. Nearly 2 years on, and no reply or court summons. Calling their bluff worked a treat in this case...

 

[terayon]

DVLA states where to display it here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/O...sArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10030643&chk=VAcx8G

When and where to display the tax disc
A vehicle tax disc shows the registration number and the date up to which you have paid vehicle tax. It comes into force on the day it is issued. But, if you apply for a tax disc in advance, it comes into force on the first day of the following month and you should not display it on your vehicle until then. You must display this disc on the left-hand side of the vehicle's windscreen. If the vehicle does not have a windscreen fitted, you will need to display the disc on the passenger side. For motorcycles, the tax disc should be displayed on the near-side of the bike. If a side car is fitted to the motorcycle, then the tax disc must be displayed on the near-side of the handlebars or on the near-side of the side car.

I was always taught to place it on the forks somewhere

 

[WindyChuffer]

OK - DirectGov is public sector information portal, and amongst other things, provides an interpretation of the law in laymans terms. The Highwaycode is also an interpretation of the law, and states that "All vehicles used or kept on the roads MUST have a valid Vehicle Excise Duty disc (tax disc) displayed at all times", but does not say where ! See http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/28.htm

What I am trying to locate is the actual wording of the relevant act or regulations relating to tax disc location...

Section 33 of the Vehicle Excise & Registration Act 1994 (VERA) goes some way to clarify this - full blurb at:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940022_en_4.htm#mdiv33

Extract below:

33.—(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he uses, or keeps, on a public road a vehicle in respect of which vehicle excise duty is chargeable, and

(b) there is not fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle in the manner prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State a licence for, or in respect of, the vehicle which is for the time being in force.


So the real question lies on precisely what the wording of the "regulations" as per 33-1b above. Am buggered if I can find them...

 

[Alphason]

Am buggered if I can find them...[/QUOTE]

In that case I'd stop looking right now!