Chicken on a mission Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 I have not had a good afternoon and need to have a moan. Having dropped my monster at nursery, I was then followed by a policeman on a motorcycle. I pulled into the back alley behind where my mum lives and he follwed me in. I thought this was weird because my driving is fine and my car has no problems. I walked over to him very puzzled and asked how I could help? He said that he had done a check and my tax was out of date. I said no that couldn't be the case because I had only had the car a couple of months and one of things we liked was the fact it had long tax on it. He asked when it ran out which is when I walked back to the car to find the tax disk gone! This is when I start looking on the floor, down the back of the dash etc. The policemen was obviously disbelieving and said that the computer check wouldn't have revealed the car didn't have tax unless it was more than 4 months out of date and that it was rarely wrong (which is code for you're lying). I responded that I had only had the car a couple of months and I don't buy cars without tax and I couldn't understand it. He obviously didn't beleive me and I got a £60 fine for not displaying my tax disc which is fair enough but it was the attitude that went with it I was obviously lying because he continued saying that if I got the tax before they got the paperwork then most of the time they don't chase for back taxes I have always tried to do the right thing and been very respectful of the police - not to mention been impressed with the uniform - and have bought up my daughter to see them as friends. I'm just feeling really embarressed and upset by the whole situation. When I went back to nursery I drove back the same way in the hope that he would still be in the same layby so I could tell him and prove my innocense but he wasn't there I'm not happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Have you found the tax disc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Oh,you poor thing - what a horrible thing to happen! You always assume that people like the Police will be so nice,but sometimes an attitude can just stink Have you found the disc now,or have you looked to see if it is taxed? If so I would write a letter to the station just pointing out that although you were in the wrong for not displaying the disc,you are not a common criminal & it was very upsetting to be treated like one. The man was only doing his job I guess,but it sucks that he had a bad attitude about it Have a glass of wine (its not too early is it?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Oh you poor thing! I should write to them and explain that it had just fallen off and that the car was fully taxed. Also explain how you felt as a result of the way this policeman was talking to you. If you include the date, time and location they will know which one it was. On Monday I had an accident on my bicycle which was partially my fault, and I called the police as the woman I had gone into was disabled and partially deaf, and I was having a hard time explaining the damage to her car to her and exchanging details. I was quite upset to be calling the police and quite upset that I had nearly died through not paying attention to what other people were doing but as I bounced off a car on my head (which was stupidly not covered by a helmet) the police were very kind and drove me home afterwards. Most police officers are lovely, but you do get the odd jobsworth. Oops, didn't post quickly enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 Aunty e, I hope you are all right after your ordeal? I can't remember if I posted on here about my brush with a badger when on a nightime ride? If I have then sorry but here it is again! As I was coming back along a quiet road at about 11pm there was a rustling in the bushes beside me and I am embarrassed to say made me swear out load as it scared me witless as the sound chased me along the road. Now I should just point out that I was in top gear going like the clappers and my instinct was ‘mugger’ so I tried to speed up and out run the danger. At this point I realised that a badger was running along next to my knee! Boy those things are massive and I felt so invigorated at being so close to such a magnificent and powerful animal. Could have be dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 I forgot to mention the most important bit of the story, well to me anyway. I called the DVLA when I got home and asked how to get a duplicate tax disc. They told me I needed a V20 and it would cost £7. I asked them to check how long it had left to run because it might be cheaper )car tax is only £110 per annum) just to buy new tax and was told it runs out on 1.7.06. I knew I was right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Oh how unfair Thalia. No wonder you're cross and upset. I've got 2 cousins in the police force and I can vouch for them as being thoroughly nice blokes but you do get some who are very keen on over doing the job. At least you know you WERE right. Shame you've got to pay for another disk though. Hope you're OK after your accident Aunty E. What a horrible thing to happen and what a good reminder about cycle helmets! I must get some for my boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 How lovely that badger sounds! I've seen the foxes a few times and I don't really mind them as long as they're not in MY garden, but they're nothing like badgers! I'm fine, although my head left a huge dent in the poor old lady's motability vehicle. I felt so bad for her, because we were both manoevering around someone in the round who shouldn't have been there, and I know I just didn't even think to look for anyone else doing the smae thing and I just bounced straight off her car and landed in the middle of the road. I was pretty much totally unhurt, although I've stiffened up now, but I must have looked dead curled up in my foetal ball in the middle of the road. She was terribly shocked and I felt terribly guilty, particularly as I had my husband and half of London turning up to hold my hand and she had no one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 The police aren't my friend they're my family! My dad is a Sergeant, who will be taking his inspector exams soon! My grandad works in the offices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 How nasty of him I do a lot of unofficial work with the police, and the guys I deal with are all totally lovely. What a rotter - get some evidence from the DVLA (say a faxed letter as proof) and write to the station to tell them - you shoudl ge an aoplogy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Thalia, what a horrible thing to happen to you. I wonder where that tax disc has gone. I wouldn't let this go either. I'd write in and ask which database the Policeman was using for a start off. He's obviously lied through his teeth about the check, otherwise it woul dhave told him what they told you. My brother is a policeman (and a thoroughly nice one too!) and he hates the corruption in the force. If he could leave to do something else he would, but it's all he's ever known. It's a real battle for him at times. They also have 'targets' which they have to reach, which is stopping the police making 'good judgements' about who they think its making a genuine mistake, and being able to let them off with a quick telling off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Technically it's a £60 fine for not displaying a tax disc. I reckon they knew Thalia was insured, otherwise they would have pushed for a lot more than a £60 fine. I think it's up to £1000 for no tax. Even if Thalia does complain, she was still driving a car without displaying a tax disc. My advice - pay the £60 fine, be happy and forget about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 Thanks everyone. I've had my rant which is what I needed and feel better for it Don't get me wrong, I love the police. They do a great job and I wish there were more of them As for appealing, I won;t do that because I was in the wrong for not having it displayed no matter what the circumstances. I am back to my usual magnanimous self now. That poor bloke must get excuses like mine many times every day and that has to affect you. I'm off out at the weekend to buy one of those magnetic tax disk holders. Esme was under the mistaken impression that the 'sticker' in my windscreen was because I had been good so she wanted it I explained that it told the police that mummy was allowed to drive a car but it must have lost its stickyness and fallen off I'm sure I would have seen it if it had gone out of the window so I think it must of dropped down the blowers and the dash looks like a bit of a pig to get off. I'll go for the easier £7 option I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 I must say I agree about the uniform . It sounds as if he had nothing better to do. When I have been stopped by the police I have always been on a motorbike and find that flattering my eyelashes and smiling lots usually helps (did I really just say that!!) with my crash helmet off, of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 When I have been stopped by the police I have always been on a motorbike and find that flattering my eyelashes and smiling lots usually helps I tried that - it didn't help at all... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Must be the hairy legs Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 Technically it's a £60 fine for not displaying a tax disc. I reckon they knew Thalia was insured, otherwise they would have pushed for a lot more than a £60 fine. I think it's up to £1000 for no tax. Even if Thalia does complain, she was still driving a car without displaying a tax disc. My advice - pay the £60 fine, be happy and forget about it. Crossed posts with you there Great minds...and all that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 grd is spot on I'm afraid. Pay up and forget. Don't bother writing to the police station to explain the situation or to let him know you were right. That's a waste of your time and theirs. I know you want to let off steam but use the omlet forum for that - collectively we have big strong shoulders for you to cry on / ears for you to shout at / whatever you want. I'm a criminal lawyer and these things happen. It is not a serious matter - it's just that you felt frustrated and (possibly embarassed?) by the whole situation. The fact of the matter is that a lot of people who dodge road tax also dodge other things so when they do a check and you've got no tax they will usually follow it up. They ahve new systems to check DVLA and Insurance databases these days but they can sometimes be slow to be updated which is probably what happened here. Don't worry about it. We know you're a good law abiding person Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 COAM: How annoying for you! I had something similar a while back when I brought a car park ticket in a hurry, shoved it on my dashboard and went off.... came back to find an envelope.... the ticket was face down. Boy was I mad....at myself! I thought about running after the warden and waving it in his face, as it would have made me feel better knowing that at least he knew I wasn't cheating. Would he have cared? Probably not. Shame the policeman made you feel bad though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 That's exactly my attitude and has been from the start He obviously didn't beleive me and I got a £60 fine for not displaying my tax disc which is fair enough but it was the attitude that went with it I really hate those people that do something wrong like speeding and then try to get off on a technicality Why can't people just accept the consequences of their actions My beef with the situation I was in was the attitude of the chap. I felt really bad that somebody would think I was a liar. Even if it was a stranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamsin Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 How fustrating for you when you know your not in the wrong but cant prove it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 The police aren't my friend they're my family! My dad is a Sergeant, who will be taking his inspector exams soon! My grandad works in the offices! I have a very good friend who is a police inspector. It's nice to see women in the higher ranks. The men all call her ma'am, just like in Prime Suspect!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken on a mission Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 How fustrating for you when you know your not in the wrong but cant prove it Thanks Tamsin But the wrong doing is also in not displaying it so I only in trouble on one count rather than the 2 he thought I'm smiling and happy again now. I lost 5lb this week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 How fustrating for you when you know your not in the wrong but cant prove it Thanks Tamsin But the wrong doing is also in not displaying it so I only in trouble on one count rather than the 2 he thought I'm smiling and happy again now. I lost 5lb this week Hey, good for you Thalia! Your positivity is shining through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 well done on the 5lb - was it the stress of the fine? - seriously though, that's great Thalia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
