Car tax

empirix · 02-05-2009 3:56pm #1

I got stopped last night by an amazingly aggressive Garda, i never received my car tax renewal letter and so my tax was out a month, i explained this and the Garda replied in a very unfriendly ignorant manner "i can take the car off you" i replied ive always paid my taxes and was waiting on the letter, he replied again " i can take the car off you", i shook my head for all of 2 seconds thinking whats the story with this guys attitude, then an outburst from him, ill give you a ticket now so, like wtf!

Can i take any kind of action about this as his behaviour was very unfair, fair enough the tax was out but i dont expect to be treated like that, i also thought you had 10 days to get the matter rectified?

Any info appreciated

Mr. Presentable · 02-05-2009 4:00pm

Was it a checkpoint, or were you pulled over?

empirix · 02-05-2009 4:01pm

checkpoint

ninty9er · 02-05-2009 4:06pm

Your word against his, and realistically I find it difficult to believe he just jumped on that without asking any questions.

Plus, can you imagine being a Garda....how many times would you have people telling you "I always pay my taxes."

You knew, or should have know your tax is out of date. It's your problem, not his.

If you didn't get the letter, you ain't gonna get it now. They arrive about 3 weeks before renewal. I know mine did. If you had paid and were waiting on a disc and had a receipt to show you wold still be in the wrong, but may have received a better response.

I'm waiting on the letter is just bull.

peasant · 02-05-2009 4:08pm

Would it be ok with you that I point out that the tax expiry date is printed quite legibly on the tax disk itself, even if you don't receive a renewal letter?

And that letters do get lost occasionally?

(Or would you be the second poster today to call me a smart arse and run off in a huff ?)

empirix · 02-05-2009 4:12pm

lads get of f the high horse, i admitted i was wrong and actually its very inconvenient for me to go to the tax office(i await abuse for this comment!), i always renew online. and yes the garda in question was aggressive like that from the start which is why i am not happy about it, i dont expect to be treated like that, i am a grown man who has always lived by the law, its not on, the garda clearly was on a power trip/having a bad day.

now can you answer the question, do i have 10 days or not, thanks

SteelyDanJalapeno · 02-05-2009 4:17pm

Yeah you do have 10 "days of grace" from when it expired but as you said in you 1st post it was out a month,

month > 10 days.

ninty9er · 02-05-2009 4:33pm

No high horses round here, just people telling it how it is.

Matt Simis · 02-05-2009 4:53pm

ninty9er wrote: »

No high horses round here, just people telling it how it is.

from the back of their horses!

Anan1 · 02-05-2009 5:11pm

empirix wrote: »

lads get of f the high horse, i admitted i was wrong and actually its very inconvenient for me to go to the tax office(i await abuse for this comment!), i always renew online. and yes the garda in question was aggressive like that from the start which is why i am not happy about it, i dont expect to be treated like that, i am a grown man who has always lived by the law, its not on, the garda clearly was on a power trip/having a bad day.

now can you answer the question, do i have 10 days or not, thanks

Honestly, is today the day when people take no responsibility for their own actions? Your tax was out by a month and the Garda, rather than prosecuting you as he's paid to do, let you off with a bollocking. Just tax your car and move on.

Trampas · 02-05-2009 6:52pm

Sounds like your attitude got you the ticket in the end.

If I got stopped at a checkpoint with tax out I would be saying sorry Garda and will sort it out straight away instead of shaking my head for 2 seconds and repeating myself.

tfitzgerald · 02-05-2009 7:22pm

he was on a power trip we all know that it happens while they are some nice guards like every walk of life they are some little ***** and you happened to meet one. the best thing to do is just agree with them and forget it

Esel · 02-05-2009 9:04pm

Tax must be more than 2 continuous months out of date before car can be seized.

SteelyDanJalapeno · 02-05-2009 9:25pm

esel wrote: »

Tax must be more than 2 continuous months out of date before car can be seized.

Absolutely correct,

Taken from the citizen's information site:

"Similarly, the Gardai are empowered to impound any vehicle which has not been taxed for a period of two months or more. In reality this means that if you are stopped by the Gardai while driving a vehicle and the road tax for that vehicle is out of date by two months or more, the Gardai can seize that vehicle and impound it until such time as the owner can show proof that the motor tax has been paid for that vehicle to include the date on which it was impounded (i.e. paying the arrears due on the vehicle). Again, the owner of the vehicle will be liable for all charges and costs incurred by the Gardai in the removal and storage of the vehicle."

But he had every right to fine you.

Guy:Incognito · 02-05-2009 11:47pm

tfitzgerald wrote: »

he was on a power trip we all know that it happens while they are some nice guards like every walk of life they are some little ***** and you happened to meet one. the best thing to do is just agree with them and forget it

Power trip or not, he cant do anything to you if your all legal. If your not then whethe rhe is on a power trip or not is of little consequence, your breakign the law.

empirix wrote: »

i am a grown man who has always lived by the law,

Except when you drove your car with no tax of course.....

Eoin · 03-05-2009 12:07am

empirix wrote: »

lads get of f the high horse, i admitted i was wrong and actually its very inconvenient for me to go to the tax office(i await abuse for this comment!)

For Christ's sake, why do people keep using this "high horse" nonsense when they admit they are in the wrong? What are you hoping someone is going to say - that the Garda was a dick for not fining you and/or taking your car, when you didn't pay your tax?

Can you not just go to www.motortax.ie, print out the correct form and send it in the post?

tfitzgerald wrote: »

he was on a power trip we all know that it happens while they are some nice guards like every walk of life they are some little ***** and you happened to meet one. the best thing to do is just agree with them and forget it

Absolute crap. The best thing you can do is pay your tax when you are supposed to and be grateful that you only got a telling off.

EyeDeeOne · 04-05-2009 1:38pm

im with ya buddy.
gaurds go through me head.

SOME of them can be right pricks from the start.
they should NOT be able to take yer car from ya for not paying tax.
its a rip off anyway.
rage at them

Esel · 04-05-2009 4:43pm

Repeatedly saying "I can take the car off you" when, in fact (in this case) he can't, sounds somewhat power-trippy to me.....

CarCity · 04-05-2009 5:49pm

Anan1 wrote: »

Honestly, is today the day when people take no responsibility for their own actions? Your tax was out by a month and the Garda, rather than prosecuting you as he's paid to do, let you off with a bollocking. Just tax your car and move on.

+1... it was a month out not a few days, he was perfectly entitled to take it off you.

Esel · 04-05-2009 5:52pm

CarCity wrote: »

+1... it was a month out not a few days, he was perfectly entitled to take it off you.

RTFT. Tax has to be out of date for more than two continuous months before it can be seized......

CarCity · 04-05-2009 6:06pm

esel wrote: »

RTFT. Tax has to be out of date for more than two continuous months before it can be seized......

I always thought they could take it straight off you but yes you are correct.. just researched Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994!

Car tax

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