Stafford Traffic.

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
There you go then, replacement methods of detection and enforcement have proven to be more efficient than traffic wardens spotting the wrong coloured disc. As wardens tend to operate within 'town areas' ANPR operators are active on all streets and have a better detection rate.
But look at the graph on page 2 of the government's vehicle excise duty evasion statistics and you can't miss the rise from 2014 :
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/847426/vehicle-excise-duty-evasion-statistics-2019.pdf
And on 22 November 2019 the Times reported that "The proportion of drivers evading road tax has almost tripled since the paper disc was abolished, blowing a £94 million-hole in the public finances. The owners of 1.6 per cent of vehicles tracked on UK roads this year failed to pay vehicle excise duty, equivalent to 634,000 cars, vans and lorries. Before the system was digitised in October 2014 the figure was only 0.6 per cent".
It isn't though a case of either traffic wardens, who I don't think spent much time scrutinising tax discs, or ANPR operators which have been used since 1979, 35 years before the discs were abandoned. Both the disc as a visual indication of tax paid and ANPR should have a role.
 
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Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
But look at the graph on page 2 of the government's vehicle excise duty evasion statistics and you can't miss the rise from 2014 :
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/847426/vehicle-excise-duty-evasion-statistics-2019.pdf
And on 22 November 2019 the Times reported that "The proportion of drivers evading road tax has almost tripled since the paper disc was abolished, blowing a £94 million-hole in the public finances. The owners of 1.6 per cent of vehicles tracked on UK roads this year failed to pay vehicle excise duty, equivalent to 634,000 cars, vans and lorries. Before the system was digitised in October 2014 the figure was only 0.6 per cent".
It isn't though a case of either traffic wardens, who I don't think spent much time scrutinising tax discs, or ANPR operators which have been used since 1979, 35 years before the discs were abandoned. Both the disc as a visual indication of tax paid and ANPR should have a role.
I would suggest that rise in untaxed vehicles is based on offender's perception that since they do not have to display a disc they will not get caught. The 'if I close my eyes you can't see me' mindset. So on that basis you are correct but I would maintain that detection rates have increased with the introduction of specialist ANPR operators. Accepted that ANPR has been used by police forces for a while but anecdotal evidence suggests that road tax detection is often disabled as it can tie up traffic units that can be employed dealing with more serious offences.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
But look at the graph on page 2 of the government's vehicle excise duty evasion statistics and you can't miss the rise from 2014 :
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/847426/vehicle-excise-duty-evasion-statistics-2019.pdf
And on 22 November 2019 the Times reported that "The proportion of drivers evading road tax has almost tripled since the paper disc was abolished, blowing a £94 million-hole in the public finances. The owners of 1.6 per cent of vehicles tracked on UK roads this year failed to pay vehicle excise duty, equivalent to 634,000 cars, vans and lorries. Before the system was digitised in October 2014 the figure was only 0.6 per cent".
It isn't though a case of either traffic wardens, who I don't think spent much time scrutinising tax discs, or ANPR operators which have been used since 1979, 35 years before the discs were abandoned. Both the disc as a visual indication of tax paid and ANPR should have a role.
But more importantly, Ian Duncan Smith had a traffic cone thrown at him. Bet he went down the pub to down his sorrows but which pub?
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
I would suggest that rise in untaxed vehicles is based on offender's perception that since they do not have to display a disc they will not get caught. The 'if I close my eyes you can't see me' mindset. So on that basis you are correct but I would maintain that detection rates have increased with the introduction of specialist ANPR operators. Accepted that ANPR has been used by police forces for a while but anecdotal evidence suggests that road tax detection is often disabled as it can tie up traffic units that can be employed dealing with more serious offences.
Yes, I'm sure we are both agreed about an "offender's perception that since they do not have to display a disc they will not get caught" and "that detection rates have increased with the introduction of specialist ANPR"
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
But more importantly, Ian Duncan Smith had a traffic cone thrown at him. Bet he went down the pub to down his sorrows but which pub?
You can't have been paying attention if you didn't notice the three pubs I mentioned in Portland Street where a traffic cone was allegedly thrown at Iain Duncan Smith.
Now can we please get back to discussing Stafford traffic ?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
The figures for untaxed vehicles being driven on the roads are conjecture. If they know that an untaxed vehicle is being driven these days, it has never been easier to detect it.

Beware of figures that arrive via a 'journalist'.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
I've used the Circus Tavern most, then the Grey Horse, then the Old Monkey - with apologies for digressing from 'Stafford Traffic'.
I've always thought the Grey Horse was far better. Reminds me of the Horse and Hounds in Grimsby, who do a great pint of Wadworths.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
I've always thought the Grey Horse was far better. Reminds me of the Horse and Hounds in Grimsby, who do a great pint of Wadworths.
Yes, I can understand that. I remember being in the Grey Horse during1978 and 'bumping into' a friend from Wolverhampton.
I've not been to Grimsby for many years and don't recollect the Horse and Hounds.
- with further apologies for digressing from 'Stafford Traffic'.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Yes, I can understand that. I remember being in the Grey Horse during1978 and 'bumping into' a friend from Wolverhampton.
I've not been to Grimsby for many years and don't recollect the Horse and Hounds.
- with further apologies for digressing from 'Stafford Traffic'.
The Horse and Hounds is a great place. Nice locals pub with a fabulous atmosphere and a slightly sticky carpet...
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
The Horse and Hounds is a great place. Nice locals pub with a fabulous atmosphere and a slightly sticky carpet...
"Slightly sticky carpet" reminds me that I've been in the Grimsby Wetherspoons, the Yarborough Hotel near Grimsby Town railway station.
That was in September 2004 and after I'd used Swigs and the Tivoli Tavern.
- with yet further apologies for digressing from 'Stafford Traffic'.
 
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markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
The figures for untaxed vehicles being driven on the roads are conjecture. If they know that an untaxed vehicle is being driven these days, it has never been easier to detect it.

Beware of figures that arrive via a 'journalist'.
I've been reading this post over the last few days thinking how taxing a car is now so much simpler than it used to be, however that was until today....

Unbeknown to me until it was too late I have been guilty of driving an untaxed vehicle for the last few months. I've moved house recently but I was 100% sure (until today) that I had informed the dvla of my new address. Nope!

Whilst my wife was picking up the children from school the car was clamped for being untaxed! Argh.

Thankfully, it was a relatively quick fix to tax the car and pay the clamping fee (£100), however my wife and children were left stranded for a couple of hours. Needless to say I'm in the dog house and I've now set a reminder on my calendar to re-tax my car next year.

I'm now missing the old tax disc. A physical reminder in my windscreen may have prevented today.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I've been reading this post over the last few days thinking how taxing a car is now so much simpler than it used to be, however that was until today....

Unbeknown to me until it was too late I have been guilty of driving an untaxed vehicle for the last few months. I've moved house recently but I was 100% sure (until today) that I had informed the dvla of my new address. Nope!

Whilst my wife was picking up the children from school the car was clamped for being untaxed! Argh.

Thankfully, it was a relatively quick fix to tax the car and pay the clamping fee (£100), however my wife and children were left stranded for a couple of hours. Needless to say I'm in the dog house and I've now set a reminder on my calendar to re-tax my car next year.

I'm now missing the old tax disc. A physical reminder in my windscreen may have prevented today.
In Ireland, the cops have ANPR and vehicle have an insurance and tax disc on the screen, plus a test disc, once they reach the starting age for testing.

BrKxz4VCYAAGv_g.jpg


Not sure if that windscreen will get through the next test...


Actually, I see that that tax disc is fake...
 
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proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
I've been reading this post over the last few days thinking how taxing a car is now so much simpler than it used to be, however that was until today....

Unbeknown to me until it was too late I have been guilty of driving an untaxed vehicle for the last few months. I've moved house recently but I was 100% sure (until today) that I had informed the dvla of my new address. Nope!

Whilst my wife was picking up the children from school the car was clamped for being untaxed! Argh.

Thankfully, it was a relatively quick fix to tax the car and pay the clamping fee (£100), however my wife and children were left stranded for a couple of hours. Needless to say I'm in the dog house and I've now set a reminder on my calendar to re-tax my car next year.

I'm now missing the old tax disc. A physical reminder in my windscreen may have prevented today.
If you pay via DD there's no need to remember. Which is just as well with my memory.
 

cj1

Well-Known Forumite
I've been guilty too without a paper disk to remind you it's too easily done. they do send a polite you forgot your road tax letter though. a quick visit to their online website and I was taxed for 12 months for the princely sum of £0. unfortunately, I can't set up a DD for my vehicle so have marked it on the calendar. imagine how pissed you'd be if you were charged £100 for not settling your £0 bill.
 
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