N3 Customs check

Tazdedub

Yesterday I was driving along the N3 and there was what I thought was a usual tax and insurance check. When I got up to the top I noticed that the customs were also there and any car with a yellow reg was pulled over and all their paper work was being checked. This is the first time that I have seen this and have there been any other checks like this people have seen? Is the government now cracking down on folks trying to evade paying the VRT? Also noticed they have the tow truck there ready to impound any car.

trackcar

cracking down big time, they need to get money from somewhere, on dole days in the border towns carrickmacross/castleblayney they have check points stopping all NI reg cars, if you give a northern address they check if you are claiming the dole, if you give a sothern address they impound the car.

leeroybrown

The customs checks have been going on for years but they've become much more frequent recently. The most recent 'innovation' is the combined Garda, Customs and Social Welfare checkpoints that trackcar mentions above.

JohnThomas09

They have started a huge campaign.I was at a checkpoint the other day,the customs were dipping and checking for northern cars.The Social Welfare were also there and the asked my my PPS number and whether i was currently working or not.Their trying to catch out people that are working for cash and drawing the dole.The country is broke so their trying to get money anyway they can.

mick.fr

Checking if people are on the dole?
Ok and so what, people can't drive their car when they are on dole now lol.

Checking if they are getting cash in hand job by providing PPS number, hum, ok?

Where are we going...

Wertz

Customs were in our estate yesterday. They went to a Nigerian family down the street that have a UK reg people carrier...cue lots of arguing and throwing up of hands...vehicle is still there this morning, with UK plates, so don't know if they've been given time to get it sorted or what.

On the issue of social welfare checks (not seen any round here myself but heard of plenty), do they expect you to have a copy of your PPS # with you at all times now too?

furtzy

mick.fr wrote: »

Checking if people are on the dole?
Ok and so what, people can't drive their car when they are on dole now lol.

Checking if they are getting cash in hand job by providing PPS number, hum, ok?

Where are we going...

Been through a couple of these checkpoints. They're checking work vans and the like for people working and signing on. Judging by the numbers caught in a recent checkpoint in Carrickmacross theres a real need for these checkpoints

smash

furtzy wrote: »

They're checking work vans and the like for people working and signing on.

Lol, no they're not, they're dipping and checking the fuel!

mick.fr

steve06 wrote: »

Lol, no they're not, they're dipping and checking the fuel!

With the welfare agent?
Lol come on guys

mick.fr

furtzy wrote: »

Been through a couple of these checkpoints. They're checking work vans and the like for people working and signing on. Judging by the numbers caught in a recent checkpoint in Carrichmacross theres a real need for these checkpoints

Yeah ok makes more sense now, if you are driving a commercial VAN and are on the dol you probably have some explaining to do.

furtzy

steve06 wrote: »

Lol, no they're not, they're dipping and checking the fuel!

Eh no these are combined Garda, Customs and Social Welfare checkpoints...so no lol's there

leeroybrown

steve06 wrote: »

Lol, no they're not, they're dipping and checking the fuel!

No. They're running multi-agency checkpoints near the border involving the Gardaí, Customs and Social Welfare. The Gardaí do their usual checks then direct any car on UK plates to Customs and Social Welfare. If the driver is claiming dole and driving a UK reg car they have them over the barrel. The driver will end up either having their car lifted for VRT or being pursued for social welfare fraud. It's proven a very successful strategy.

furtzy

The details on these checkpoints and the levels of fraud they are targetting are described and outlined here

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Press/PressReleases/2009/Pages/pr060309.aspx

You are going to be seeing a lot of these multi-agency checkpoints from now on

ardmacha

It is a very neat piece of coordination. On the one hand a number of people really living in the North are claiming to be living in the South for dole purposes, while keeping their car registered at their real address. On the other hand quite a few people really living in the South and fully entitled to the dole are driving cars with no VRT on them. These checkpoints ensure that people are using the same address for both purposes.

Heroditas

They had a checkpoint near the Phoenix Park station a while back. They were ushering any diesel cars up towards the station where a team of lads were checking the fuel in the cars. There were a number of cars already on a big transporter.


However, here's a question. If you're from NI and driving a UK reg car - what would you have to produce to prove you live in NI? What if you don't have your driving licence on you?
Do they look for a utility bill or something like that?
Wouldn't a lot of genuine people be in a bit of a pickle if they were asked for proof they didn't live in ROI?

Farls

You should have your licence with you, this will be sufficient to do the checks needed. If you live in Ireland but have a NI licence you might be lucky and get away with it but they might ask some questions and you could get caught out.

I live on the border and been through these checkpoints a few times now and yes there are social welfare people there too. It's a combined effort between, guards, customs and social services.

ardmacha

If you live in Ireland but have a NI licence you might be lucky and get away

I expect they'd be interested in whether you are living in the South, as all NI licence holders live in Ireland. You are supposed to have your licence with you in any case, but without it you might have some problems, customs is the only area where you have to prove your innocence rather than the authorities proving your guilt.

dmca77

So what happens if you live in Dublin,work in Northern Ireland and have a company car from the North?

Heroditas

dmca77 wrote: »

So what happens if you live in Dublin,work in Northern Ireland and have a company car from the North?

Wouldn't the ruling be that the car should be left in NI every evening? Your place of residence is the RoI so the car should be registered here.... I think.

dmca77

Don't think thats the case.
sure cannot be

Heroditas

dmca77 wrote: »

Don't think thats the case.
sure cannot be

I'm actually curious to hear the proper answer to this one too! Hopefully someone can shed some light on it.

testicle

dmca77 wrote: »

Don't think thats the case.
sure cannot be

It is. If you are normally resident, you are not allowed to drive a foreign registered vehicle.

dmca77

Cant see that being the case as I would not be allowed to drive home. I pay tax in the united kingdom and my contract states I can drive the vehicle for business and personal use in europe.

ardmacha

There has been case law on this, perhaps someone can quote it.

leitrim lad

yip, there gone mad, customs workers are breaking out in sweat for once, as for the checkpoints , the gardai will probably try and convince you that its against the law to drive a motor viechel without having your pps card present,

this would make a mighty fine gift grub indeed, a check point dealing with the "scum" (dont take offence its a joke)on our roads,

do you have your pps number present sir,

are you aware that it is an offence against the state not to carry your pps number at all times sir,

step out of the car please sir and put your hands behind your back.

ardmacha

re company cars

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/vrt2.html

says (para 11)

Can a State resident drive a foreign registered vehicle for business use?

Yes, but in the following circumstances only:-

* A State resident who is employed by an employer established in another Member State may, on application to the Revenue Commissioners, be approved to use a Category A vehicle or a motor-cycle registered in another Member State (either owned or leased by the employer) for business/private use in the State. However, the vehicle must be used primarily in the other Member State. (Application forms for this temporary exemption are available from Vehicle Registration Offices)
* A State resident who is employed by an employer established in another Member State is eligible to use Category B & C vehicles registered in another Member State (either owned or leased by the employer) for business/private use in the State.
* A State resident who is an employee of a car-hire firm established outside the State is allowed to drive a vehicle for the purpose of returning it to the firm after the vehicle was left in the State on expiry of a hire contract.
* In other circumstances where authorised in writing by the Revenue Commissioners.

dmca77

I come under b/c vehicles.
I guess my contract is correct. Looks like I'll have to carry about with me to prove the status.

ardmacha

Probably better to contact the Revenue with the contract and get a letter, and keep the letter to hand.

leeroybrown

dmca77 wrote: »

I come under b/c vehicles.
I guess my contract is correct. Looks like I'll have to carry about with me to prove the status.

Note that in the above rules 'Category A' refers to the Revenue definition for VRT purposes that includes standard passenger cars, not the licensing categories where a car would be 'Category B'. It's never simple and consistent is it...

galwaytt

ardmacha wrote: »

There has been case law on this, perhaps someone can quote it.

...no need - on 'Customs' last week they took a NI reg 7-Series off a ROI driver under the Section 139 of the Finance Act 1992, . See it here: ...and look go to min 10:20.

You cannot drive or be in possession of a foreign registered car if you're an Irish resident. Period.