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MattN · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Manchester England

The police have stolen my car, the DVLA are going to crush it, and there’s nothing I can do.

On a less dramatic note, I wonder if anyone has any suggestions.

I have been too busy to enjoy my 924 recently so I parked it on my mates drive (I don’t have off road parking) declared it off the road, and let the tax, MOT and insurance expire. The car was blocking access to my mates garage so he pushed it onto the road so that he could open the garage door, but unfortunately he left it there for a couple of days.

To cut a long story short the local plod showed up, and on the 4th September it was impounded. I am now being fined for having a car on the road with no tax, no insurance, and no MOT. This is unfortunate to say the least, but my biggest problem is the DVLA sent me a letter to inform me that on the 10th September they would start the procedure where by they crush an untaxed car. I have spoken to the impound yard and they have informed me that the DVLA usually take a car to be crushed after 14 days, but they would phone me if the DVLA tried to crush it before then.

I am working in Cambridge, and have been all week, I will return to Manchester Monday morning (15th) I don’t know anyone with a car trailer, how am I going to get my car from the impound yard without tax, MOT and Insurance?

My idea was to book in to a garage for an MOT, pay my fines, and drive out of there. My car will fail the MOT on emissions, I will drive back to my mates drive and make him promise not to leave it on the road again. Are there any coppers or traffic lawyers in the 924 community that could give me some advice?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Matt
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1981 924 N/A

Paul · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:32 am Post subject:

You guys need to change some laws over there!
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

MattN · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Manchester England

Tell me about it.
The crazy thing is my mate was there trying to talk sense to them when they towed it. He didn't raise his voice or come accross agressive, but they still called for backup.
8 cops, 2 panda cars, and one transit van to watch a car being impounded.
This is not a sensible use of taxpayers money. I dread to think of the real crimes being commited whilst these officers were otherwise engaged.
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1981 924 N/A

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

That sucks!

Move somewhere less draconian.

In Oz you have to get caught three times doing burnouts or street racing before your car is crushed. As if theres any incentive to stop. And the authorities are wondering why the incidence of police chases have increased.

Sorry cant give any advice except polite negotiating with the superiors of the relevant departments, and see your local MP.

Paul · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:59 am Post subject:

Kiss that car goodbye or call BBC and ask for an interview....
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

MattN · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Manchester England

RC perhaps that's why so many people from the UK are moving over to OZ, I had a mate emigrate just the other week.

as to polite negotiaton, I tried speaking to the inspector at the local station, his line was, "the car was on the road with no tax and insurance. you haven't got a leg to stand on"

We'll see what happens tomorrow, I'll be gutted to see that car go as I have a lot invested in it emotionally as well as financially. Still I guess if I have to buy a new 924 I could always use it as an excuse to upgrade to a 931
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1981 924 N/A

Paul · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject:

So is this just a matter of paying them enough money to get your car back?

Do you have to pay the fines even if they crush your car?

Are the fines higher than the value of the car?
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

MattN · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Manchester England

1. I hope so, this is what I will find out tomorrow, trouble is without an MOT, insurance, and tax I don't think they'll let me drive it away.
2. they don't make that clear, but I'm almost certain I'd still have to pay the fines.
3. ha ha, yes, trouble is I have an attachment to that car, my dad helped me buy it, just before he passed away, it's worth a lot more to me than it's cash value.

If it gets crushed, or it's crushed already, then I know it's only a car, and it's an excuse to upgrade. If there is any way for me to stop it getting crushed, and they let me drive it away tomorrow then that's what I will do.
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1981 924 N/A

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9084 Location: Romania

call BBC (TopGear) tell them about this, meanwhile get your cash ready...go negociate it out of the crusher but dont drive it away....tow it away....it will cost you some more money but you can save the car.
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

Ozzie · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

Its sad to see a car go the way it has.
Your friend and you both know the law (harsh as it is) and have to accept that.
That law is designed to get rid of junkers and backyard mechanics leaving their cars littering the streets.
Was the car SORN?
With no tax, no MOT or insurance that was your next legal obligation.

If it appears I dont feel sorry for you , you are right.

( I hope you get it back and maybe have been taught something)
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Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

Scorpio · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject:

go down tonight and start pulling parts off it !!

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1979 NA
MS1..EFI..
GARRETT T25 TURBO
BILSTEIN SHOCKS
GT BASED CUSTOM BODYKIT

Brisbane , Australia
Think mean think fast
all youll see is
my Porsches Arse!!!

MattN · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Manchester England

Ozzie, yes it was SORN, as was my legal obligation.

I do know the law but I was under the impression that it was meant to protect law abiding members of the community and prosecute criminals.

instead of applying the law with a bit of common sense it was used by 8 jumped up scallies in uniform to bully and intimidate.

It's D-day today, I've got my fingers crossed, lets see what happens.
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1981 924 N/A

Rich H · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

Pay the fine, then they won't crush it, either then tow it (Get your mate to help!) or get a local garage to recover it. They probably won't let you drive, especially with no insurance, you coulde drive it with no tax or MOT to an MOT station for test though then home if it fails (But not if itpasses as you must have Tax then!!) Emissions is easy to fix, just get them to tweak the mixture before they test it.

The DVLA are draconian in application of the rules but sadly they can be. Interestingly you could apparently challenge them under civil law, they have "deprived you of the car's use" which is the legal definaition of theft... Its not been challenged in European court yet, but would be "interesting" - Practical Performance Car had a letter about it the other month.

As for the cops I would suggest a letter to the chief constable, while they were entitled to tow the car, it was a clear waste of time and resources.
_________________
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress...
1980 Porsche 924 S2 DITC Turbo - Original spec
1978 Homo-Sapiens - Tired spec
1953 Landrover S1 - Pensioner Spec

Ozzie · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

As with most matters dealing with the law is clear cut whether you are normally law abiding or not.
Pretty much draconian if you ask me but it is designed to get crap cars of the streets and the interpretation of 'crap' is different for all.
In other words protecting majority for the sake of the minority.

Mr Plod may have been heavy handed but again, they are usually a self regulated authority.
Sometimes you can fight the regs but rarely win.

I heard about a rare Bentley being crushed within days of it being impounded which hit the papers. Owner was up in arms for blood but never heard the result.

As I said earlier - hope you get it back.
_________________
Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

Rich H · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

IIRC the Bentley wasn't a Bently it was something odd and very very rare, crushed for failing to display a tax disc while parked in a car park(Despite the car having one) Reported by a local council worker and then towed and crushed while the owner debated that he had one and the DVLA database was wrong... Why would the crusher operator do that? Surely if presented with a clearly rare and pristine car he would object?? No helping some people though...

Pay the fine, get the car back, move on.

We got wheel clamped a few months ago for parking in a store car park, got clamped while we were across the road in anotehr store. In the end we were parked illegally despite it being very annoying, but we were in the wrong.

Its harsh, but your mate must accept a bit of responsibility, if he couldn't store the car anymore he should have told you...

Rich
_________________
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress...
1980 Porsche 924 S2 DITC Turbo - Original spec
1978 Homo-Sapiens - Tired spec
1953 Landrover S1 - Pensioner Spec