Were you stopped?

[jasonyw]

East Anglian Daily Times - East Anglian Daily Times

I had my MOT refused on minors such as dangling air freshner on the rear mirror and nearly mininum on tyre treads, will they stop me?

 

[Aoraki]

I had my MOT refused on minors such as dangling air freshner on the rear mirror and nearly mininum on tyre treads, will they stop me?

I would hope so if you haven't got an upto date MOT!

 

[LTD]

Surely they would only issue an advisory on the tyres unless they were damaged ?

 

[whitenemesis]

With no MOT then yes!! The ANPR will pick you out.

 

[LTD]

Anyone driving a car that the ANPR picks out has got something to answer to .......

 

[andy27168]

Did,nt they give you the opportunity to remove the air freshener? as LTD says the tyres should only be an advisory.
I would,nt be using that garage again, i had a similar experience, the garage removed the air freshener without being prompted, so they could pass it.

 

[andy_k]

Anyone driving a car that the ANPR picks out has got something to answer to .......

you are making a brave (and misguided) assumption that ALL the information in the ANPR database is correct and up to date

 

[Spin_bowler]

Anyone driving a car that the ANPR picks out has got something to answer to .......

or hasn't...

... I had a pointless, time-consuming, sojourn on the hard shoulder of the M25 last year when my number was flagged by ANPR as uninsured. It was and the burden was on me to prove it there and then or 'face the consequences' according to the joyless individual who stopped me.

 

[LTD]

Am I the only person that carries a copy of their insurance certificate ?

 

[imbck666]

I do too mate )
Still doesnt prove anything though when you are stopped..
They just have to make that phonecall
even if you look 100% genuine

 

[jasonyw]

Did,nt they give you the opportunity to remove the air freshener? as LTD says the tyres should only be an advisory.
I would,nt be using that garage again, i had a similar experience, the garage removed the air freshener without being prompted, so they could pass it.

I used this garage for over ten years, he said are you going to remove it or I will fail it.

I got away but will it be in the record and if they stop me will they point it out again, I put it back again after the MOT together with the nearly worn tyres? Will they follow up, we warned you before during the MOT.

 

[Will]

Am I the only person that carries a copy of their insurance certificate ?

Probably in the minority to be fair.

If I nick your car when you're on holiday, I won't be stopped until it is reported and the ANPR database is updated.

I'd even have an insurance certificate to show to any normal cops who may want a word


ANPR is useful, but it's not foolproof. You only have to read the recent thread on here about an incorrect Congestion Charge fine that was sent to one of our members to understand this

Will

 

[MercFanUk]

I never keep anything in cars - although I'll at least start carrying copies (With acct numbers for insurance etc on them) to help in any situation I might get stopped.

 

[LTD]

I carry it on my person - not left in the car.

 

[Will]

I don't think it's essential to carry your insurance certificate with you personally.

What does showing it prove anymore? They check on a database and would be unlikely to be worried if you have the document or now.

Two reasons I can think of straight away:-

It could be a certificate for a policy that you later cancelled, and hence invalid.
It could be a forgery - laser printer/doctored/photocopied etc.

Really, ANPR is just another tool. It is not infallible and is only as good as the accuracy of the information on the database. Mistakes happen.

Will

 

[Gridlock]

I never used to carry my certs, but with the introduction of ANPR I did want to start; anyone who knows anything about privacy or databases or OCR etc etc should feel the same.

Even if the ANPR db was 100% accurate (literally, impossible) someone bilking petrol using a copy of your plate would still mean you're heading for a pointless, cold hour by the side of the road...

My solution is to photograph all my certificates on my phone, so I have the exact details to hand even if I can't "prove" insurance by the side of the road.

But yes, the burden of proof is on you; if you are unable to satisfy the officer that you have insurance, an MOT, it's your car, blah blah - along comes Recovery...

Innocent until proven what in a what of what?

 

[jasonyw]

Never leave your insurance cert nor any document inside the car that for sure, it get stolen.

Didn't I remember in some of these cop TV program I saw they will ring your insurance company on the spot.

I was stopped last year in an unmarked Skoda car, the first day I brought my car back on the road, they were still talking inside the car radio I overheard AA insurance blab blab blab........and they let me off.

If you live in England or Wales and popped in Scotland and vice versa, you need to carry the document with you for sure or you have to drive back home to collect the document and show it to the respective nearest police station within 7 days.

 

[MercFanUk]

Its the providing account numbers so they can ring the company on the spot to confirm things if you show up on the ANPR for any undue reason. Being able to provide any info that helps them to more quickly get you on your way can't be a bad thing. Sure, it's not definative proof, but it helps when they call up to get things through more quickly.

I'd only carry copies incase of the car being stolen really. Being as my last car was stolen, I know how important it is to have the originals with me at home!

 

[219]

I keep photocopies in the car ( originals at home ) but it would be nice if insurance would provide a credit card sized mini-certificate you could keep in your wallet ( I have the similarly sized MOT sticker on the windscreen of each car as a reminder to myself of the expiry dates .

 

[LTD]

I don't think it's essential to carry your insurance certificate with you personally.

What does showing it prove anymore? They check on a database and would be unlikely to be worried if you have the document or now.

Two reasons I can think of straight away:-

It could be a certificate for a policy that you later cancelled, and hence invalid.
It could be a forgery - laser printer/doctored/photocopied etc.

Really, ANPR is just another tool. It is not infallible and is only as good as the accuracy of the information on the database. Mistakes happen.

Will

The database disparity is exactly why I carry it. As said, one call to the insurers can prove I am covered if they don't believe me.

I'd be more annoyed having to report to a police station with my certificate within a fixed time period than spend a short time 'helping the police with their enquiries'.