car tax fine

CurlieSue

i recently received a fine for €60 for not displaying my tax, it is only 3 weeks out of date. anyone know wher i stand here? i always thought you had the month to pay it? im considering ignoring it and just paying the tax today...

trad

Ignore it at your peril

thegunshow

usually they ignore it if it's under a month but u could have got a very strict guard,I have been stopped before and let off because it was under a month,
But i would not ignore it,Tax it and call into ur local station and ask them,
If u ignored it and ended up in court you will end up paying ALOT more than 60euros Sue

Anan1

CurlieSue wrote: »

i recently received a fine for €60 for not displaying my tax, it is only 3 weeks out of date. anyone know wher i stand here? i always thought you had the month to pay it? im considering ignoring it and just paying the tax today...

Not having tax and not displaying the disc are two separate offences. If you ignore the fine, you will get a summons. Best thing is to pay the tax and drop in to the Garda with proof of same, they may drop the fine.

fm

just had this issue over the weekend,didnt get a fine but was threatened with a ticket and the vehicle to be taken off me.i tried to state to the ban garda what it says on the tax form about you have to tax the vehicle prior or during the month of july-she wouldnt even allow me speak,she was very aggresive speaking to me so i went to the station and asks to speak to the sargeant to clarify the tax issue and the aggresive manner of the garda.he told me that strictly speaking i could be taken to court but that the judge would throw it out for wasting the courts time.

Anan1

fm wrote: »

just had this issue over the weekend,didnt get a fine but was threatened with a ticket and the vehicle to be taken off me.i tried to state to the ban garda what it says on the tax form about you have to tax the vehicle prior or during the month of july-she wouldnt even allow me speak,she was very aggresive speaking to me so i went to the station and asks to speak to the sargeant to clarify the tax issue and the aggresive manner of the garda.he told me that strictly speaking i could be taken to court but that the judge would throw it out for wasting the courts time.

There is no legal grace period for motor tax, either the car is taxed or it isn't.

fm

i'm not saying that just what the tax form states and what a garda sarqeant told me.

CurlieSue

yes, the renewal notice says it can be paid during july. so even if i pay it the last day in july it has to be back dated until the first of july. so... if i have paid for my tax for the month of july why am i getting a fine.... think ill bring the fine to the local station and see what they say,

Anan1

CurlieSue wrote: »

yes, the renewal notice says it can be paid during july. so even if i pay it the last day in july it has to be back dated until the first of july. so... if i have paid for my tax for the month of july why am i getting a fine.... think ill bring the fine to the local station and see what they say,

The answer to your question is in your first post:

CurlieSue wrote: »

i recently received a fine for €60 for not displaying my tax

galwaytt

Anan1 wrote: »

There is no legal grace period for motor tax, either the car is taxed or it isn't.

Your car tax renewal notice states quite clearly that you have up to the end of the month following expiry, to renew. You do, therefore, have 30 days grace.

Anan1

galwaytt wrote: »

Your car tax renewal notice states quite clearly that you have up to the end of the month following expiry, to renew. You do, therefore, have 30 days grace.

I'm pretty sure it says you have up to the end of the month following expiry to renew using that form. The OP got a fine for failure to display a current motor tax disc, as per para 4 here:http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/motoring-1/motor-tax-and-insurance/motor_tax_rates
I have never heard of anyone being fined for failing to display a motor tax disc that was more than one month out of date.;)

bazjnr

galwaytt wrote: »

Your car tax renewal notice states quite clearly that you have up to the end of the month following expiry, to renew. You do, therefore, have 30 days grace.

People have seemed to have missed the point of this. 30 days grace and taxing it during the month has nothing to do with it. she has not been fined for not having motor tax.

she has been fined for not having a current motor tax disc displayed on her vehicle and this is completely separate. so the fine for not having it displayed stands.

non-display is a 60 euro fixed charge notice. no tax is a court summons only.

every motorist if obliged to display current tax, insurance and nct if applicable.

Wibbs

That's a bit bloody daft(big surprise). So there exists a 30 day grace period for payment of tax, but not display of tax? OK I can perfectly well understand why there two offences are separate. That's cool, but the grace period should be applicable to both offences. Otherwise it's a pedants wet dream.

Anan1

Wibbs wrote: »

That's a bit bloody daft(big surprise). So there exists a 30 day grace period for payment of tax, but not display of tax? OK I can perfectly well understand why there two offences are separate. That's cool, but the grace period should be applicable to both offences.

I've yet to see any proof of a grace period for tax, all I know is that the tax renewal form we get in the post may not be used after the month following expiry of the tax. I can't see how this would constitute a grace period in anyone's eyes, the onus is still on the owner to display valid tax. The whole idea of a grace period makes no sense, it would make it cheaper to tax a car for three months than for the full year.

Vic_08

Anan1 wrote: »

The whole idea of a grace period makes no sense, it would make it cheaper to tax a car for three months than for the full year.

No it wouldn't. Even if you wait until the last day of the month to renew the tax period is still from the first day of the month. You don't benefit financially by delaying except possibly having longer to pay off the credit card bill.

hick

Anan1 wrote: »

Best thing is to pay the tax and drop in to the Garda with proof of same, they may drop the fine.

This is the best advice, follow it, don't lie/embelish, they hear every story every day, be honest and humble and they'll be sound about it, be shirty/whiney and they'll take great pleasure in seing you swing for it. Your not in the right here I'm afraid so not much you can do, the above advice gives you the best shot at a good outcome, have been there before.

tomyhome

I need some help and you all seem to know what you are talking about, so here we go.. My sister, (and I mean my sister, not me!), got a fine for not displaying her tax disc on Sunday, Monday was a Bank Holiday and she was working yesterday and today, with no internet access. Today she received a fine for the same offence. How long do you have to display your tax disc before the next fine in enforceable?
Any help on this is more than appreciated,
thanks,
Olivia

Atlantic Dawn

tomyhome wrote: »

I need some help and you all seem to know what you are talking about, so here we go.. My sister, (and I mean my sister, not me!), got a fine for not displaying her tax disc on Sunday, Monday was a Bank Holiday and she was working yesterday and today, with no internet access. Today she received a fine for the same offence. How long do you have to display your tax disc before the next fine in enforceable?
Any help on this is more than appreciated,
thanks,
Olivia

She could have taxed it last week, the bank holiday doesn't really come in to it. You can be fined each and every day it's in use in a public space where no disc is displayed as it's breaking the law.

TouchingVirus

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

She could have taxed it last week, the bank holiday doesn't really come in to it. You can be fined each and every day it's in use in a public space where no disc is displayed as it's breaking the law.

True, but for a Garda to do you for it despite not having been really given a chance in the three days since the previous fine is incredibly harsh. I'd try talk to the second issuing Garda, explain to them the situation after getting it taxed (ideally tomorrow) and that you were fined on Sunday for the same thing. Bring proof of the other fine. They may let it go, worth a shot.

tomyhome

So basically, she has to pay the 2 fines, €120 and make sure the tax disc is displayed before she takes the car out on the road again? Is there any avenue of negotiation available to her?
Olivia

ninty9er

If you do not have a valid tax disc displayed on a vehicle in a public area, then you are committing an offence, you may further be committing the offence of driving a vehicle without motor tax.

If you are fined for being drunk and disorderly on Friday, you will be fined again if you are caught again on Saturday, the same principle applies.

The only difference is you get about 2 weeks warning of motor tax renewal.

tomyhome

Well, that is blunt and to the point..
Thanks for your help and info..
And now to break the bad news.....,
Regards,
Olivia

teR_

Options are as follows:

-Pay fines
-Get tax and chance her arm at the garda station
(tax will be back-dated so its been paid for the dates the fines are for)
-Refuse to pay and end up in court
-Refuse to pay and end up with a bench warrant for your arrest
(spend a couple of hours in a holding cell until they need space, end of fines)-(more likely than going to court)

ZENER

Notice that your tax is about to expire is sent at least 3 weeks in advance of the date, usually 4 weeks. There's really no excuse for not having a valid tax disc. A months grace is given where you have just purchased a car and are awaiting documentation. You have no way of showing this if the car is parked but usually the Gardai will accept this situation if you show evidence at the station.

I was stopped last December by an unmarked Garda car. The Garda said his ANPR (Pulse ? ) showed that my car was "worth a pull". Once I explained the situation - that I had just bought the car and was awaiting the docs - and showed him the change over of insurance he was happy to let me go. I asked about the 30 days grace and he said that it only applied to newly purchased vehicles and not when re-taxing your own car. I'm pretty sure there is a reference to this situation on the motortax website somewhere.

As mentioned above though, the offense was non-display of a current tax disc in the OPs case.

Ken

Edit:

It is my strong view that this practice is exacerbated by the custom and practice of allowing a month’s grace for the payment of motor tax. While this is not laid down in law, the approach has arisen from the period when renewing tax discs could be slow and time-consuming. This is no longer the case since the introduction of the online motor tax system. However, the common perception that this one month grace period exists probably feeds into the notion that driving without valid motor tax for short periods is acceptable.

from here.

n900guy

galwaytt wrote: »

Your car tax renewal notice states quite clearly that you have up to the end of the month following expiry, to renew. You do, therefore, have 30 days grace.

Grace with payment, but the law on it being valid up to date and on display is nothing to do with the grace period for payment.

The "grace" period is simply a month whereby you have to pay after the last disc expired before going into arrears. It's not a free ticket to drive around with an expired tax disc being immune to fines.

djimi

It has to be said, the way the tax renewal form is worded is very misleading, and does give the impression that there is some sort of grace period. I know thats not the case but its easy to see why someone reading it would think so.

Mr. Presentable

galwaytt wrote: »

Your car tax renewal notice states quite clearly that you have up to the end of the month following expiry, to renew. You do, therefore, have 30 days grace.

My tax is due end of this month so I have the form. I cannot see where you get the above information. Can you point me towards it on the notice?

djimi

The wording on the renewal form is

"This form may be used to apply for a new tax disc provided that...

(iv) Application is made prior to or during <month after current disc expires>"

For some reason, to me anyway, at a glance it reads that the you have up to a month to pay the renewal, even though I know that is not the case and it is just saying that the form can be used to renew for up to a month after the previous disc expired...

Carson10

Grace loads of balls..if your tax disc says 04/12 then that means its out of date on the last day of April. If you cant afford to tax your car then leave it at home.

The amount of people i see driving around lately with tax out of date sickens me.

Theres a girl who works at the gym i go to and her 00 golf which she drives in a good 20 mile round trip every day has since last summer when i noticed, no NCT, not even a disc, tax out since last July 2011 and bald tyres. Ive a nerve to report her. I Spend 100's every year maintaining my car with NCT and Tax/Insurance New tyres and then you see the likes of her!

Jimbob 83

I would report her personally, at the very least the walk to the tax office/NCT centre would prove to be a valuable cardio workout

djimi

Carson10 wrote: »

Grace loads of balls..if your tax disc says 04/12 then that means its out of date on the last day of April. If you cant afford to tax your car then leave it at home.

The amount of people i see driving around lately with tax out of date sickens me.

Theres a girl who works at the gym i go to and her 00 golf which she drives in a good 20 mile round trip every day has since last summer when i noticed, no NCT, not even a disc, tax out since last July 2011 and bald tyres. Ive a nerve to report her. I Spend 100's every year maintaining my car with NCT and Tax/Insurance New tyres and then you see the likes of her!

What business is it of yours whether or not someone has tax on their car? I pay my car tax and always have done but quite frankly I couldnt care less who else does or not; its none of my concern.

Jimbob 83

djimi wrote: »

What business is it of yours whether or not someone has tax on their car? I pay my car tax and always have done but quite frankly I couldnt care less who else does or not; its none of my concern.

He isn't making it his business just informing someone whose business it is

Anan1

djimi wrote: »

What business is it of yours whether or not someone has tax on their car? I pay my car tax and always have done but quite frankly I couldnt care less who else does or not; its none of my concern.

It concerns me when people steal from the State - it's my money too.

djimi

Anan1 wrote: »

It concerns me when people steal from the State - it's my money too.

Yes but would you say it sickens you? Personally I have better things to concern myself with, and whether or not someone pays their car tax is firm "meh" on the scale of things I give a toss about.

Anan1

djimi wrote: »

Yes but would you say it sickens you? Personally I have better things to concern myself with, and whether or not someone pays their car tax is firm "meh" on the scale of things I give a toss about.

I don't lose sleep over it, but the thought of their cars being impounded makes me smile.

djimi

djimi wrote: »

What business is it of yours whether or not someone has tax on their car? I pay my car tax and always have done but quite frankly I couldnt care less who else does or not; its none of my concern.

the baldy tyres are very dangerous to be fair.

mathepac

galwaytt wrote: »

Your car tax renewal notice states quite clearly that you have up to the end of the month following expiry, to renew. You do, therefore, have 30 days grace.

There is no grace period, as previously; your tax is either current and out of date.

If a car is taxed in the month following the expiry of the tax disc, no arrears penalty will be applied.

If you attempt to tax a car in the second or later months after the tax disc expires, you will be charged for the preceding month and an arrears penalty will be applied, as well as having to tax the car for the next 3 6 or 12 months..

Wibbs wrote: »

That's a bit bloody daft(big surprise). So there exists a 30 day grace period for payment of tax, but not display of tax? OK I can perfectly well understand why there two offences are separate. That's cool, but the grace period should be applicable to both offences. Otherwise it's a pedants wet dream.

It might be daft it it were true, but it's not.

Just to set the record straight, 3 years late.

Carson10

djimi wrote: »

What business is it of yours whether or not someone has tax on their car? I pay my car tax and always have done but quite frankly I couldnt care less who else does or not; its none of my concern.

The car has No NCT and bald tyres. Its clearly not road worthy for nearly a year. I know i wont report, but its all fun till she 'may' skid out of a junction on a wet day and slam into some innocent person going to pick the kids up from school, thats what iam talking about.

bazz26

djimi wrote: »

What business is it of yours whether or not someone has tax on their car? I pay my car tax and always have done but quite frankly I couldnt care less who else does or not; its none of my concern.

The more drivers that avoid paying motor tax the more you and I will end up paying to make up the short fall. I'm sure you are already paying enough tax as am I without paying for these tax dodgers. The money she doesn't spend on taxing her car probably pays her gym membership.

dahamsta

Carson10 wrote: »

The car has No NCT and bald tyres. Its clearly not road worthy for nearly a year. I know i wont report, but its all fun till she 'may' skid out of a junction on a wet day and slam into some innocent person going to pick the kids up from school, thats what iam talking about.

And if you don't report her, you'll have a small part to play in it.

Either complain about it to someone that can do something about it, or mind your own business.

Indricotherium

djimi wrote: »

The wording on the renewal form is



For some reason, to me anyway, at a glance it reads that the you have up to a month to pay the renewal, even though I know that is not the case and it is just saying that the form can be used to renew for up to a month after the previous disc expired...

It means exactly that, you have up to a month to pay for the renewal usingthe form.

It says nothing about driving the car, or failing to display a valid tax disc.