Unit 9 - Road Policing Flashcards
Define: Road
Any way (other than a waterway) over which there is public right of passage (by whatever means) and whether subject to a toll or not and includes,
the road’s verges and
- any bridges (whether permanent or temporary) over which,
- or tunnel through which, the road passes and;
any reference to a road includes parts thereof.
What is a public road?
A road which a roads authority has a duty to maintain.
Note: this is opposed to a private road e.g. Tulliallan driveways/roads or a supermarket car park.
What is the difference between a Mechanically Propelled Vehicle and a Motor Vehicle?
All motor vehicles are mechanically propelled vehicles (MPVs) but not all MPVs are motor vehicles.
Motor vehicles are MVPS that are intended or adapted for use on the roads.
Example: a mechanically propelled vehicle being an implement for cutting grass which is controlled by a pedestrian and is not capable of being used or adapted for use on a road is NOT classified as a motor vehicle.
Which vehicles have been included under the term Motor Vehicle even though they weren’t originally intended for use on the road?
- Mini motos
- Quad bikes
- E-scooters
Why? The courts have deemed, through Case Law that they are Motor Vehicles and as such subject to the requirements of being insured, and driver having appropriate licence.
What constitutes “driving”?
Having control of the speed and direction of the vehicle.
Examples:
- Driving in the normal sense of the word
- Being towed by another vehicle when the person in the towed vehicle has control of the steering and braking. This would not apply to a rigid tow.
- Pushing a car and jumping in as it gathers speed even although the engine is inoperative.
Describe the 3 ‘parties’ involved in any insurance claim.
1st Party - the insurance company
2nd Party - the used or the motor vehicle
3rd Party - the person injured or whose property is damaged
The minimum requirement for insurance is to cover 3rd party risks only.
What is the difference between the owner and the keeper of a vehicle?
Owner - person who owns the vehicle.
Keeper - could also be the owner or a different person.
E.g. company owns 40 cars (owner). They allocate 10 cars to one department of the company (keepers) who employ 10 drivers to use the vehicles (drivers).
What offences are there in relation to Insurance?
Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988
to use, or cause or permit the use, of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place without a policy of insurance covering 3rd party risks being in force.
Section 144A of the Road Traffic Act 1988
the registered keeper of a vehicle commits an offence if the vehicle is not insured, even if the vehicle is not being used on a road or public place.
So, if a vehicle is not subject to a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) with the DVLA then it must be insured.
What is a statutory defence for Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (driving without insurance)?
If the defence can prove that:
- the vehicle DID NOT belong to the driver, and
- the vehicle was not hired to the driver, and
- the vehicle was being driven by them in the course of their employment, and
- the person neither knew nor had reason to believe that there was no insurance cover.
In what circumstances may you be exempt from requiring insurance?
- Vehicles owned by the Crown
- Local Authorities vehicles
- Police Authority Vehicles
- Vehicles owned by a person who has deposited £500,000 with the Supreme Court
- A vehicle driven for police purposes by or under the direction of a Constable
Note: If a vehicle is exempt from requiring insurance it is the keeper/drivers responsibility to provide proof of the exemption
What is a cover note?
A cover note is a temporary Certificate of Insurance which includes the same information as the certificate but valid for a shorter period of time.
What are the different ways someone can present their insurance to a Constable?
- Physical copy of Certificate of Insurance
- Cover Note (temporary certificate)
- Electronic copy of Insurance
- Printed copy of insurance
Constable is not required to provide electronic equipment in order to view the certificate.
What power do we have in relation to requiring Insurance?
As per Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, Police Officers have the power to require the production of a Certificate of Insurance from any person who:-
- is driving a motro vehicle on a road, or
- the officer has reasonable cause to believe has been the driver of a motor vehicle at a time when a collision occured owing to its presence on a road or other public place, or
- the officer has reasonable cause to believe has committed an offence in relation to the use of a motor vehicle on a road.
What does the HO/RT 1 Procedure relate to?
- Home Office/Road Traffic Form 1
- It is an offence for a person lawfully required to produce their driving documents e.g. license or insurance, to fail to produce any of these documents HOWEVER, it is recognised that many people DO NOT carry these at ALL TIMES.
- To allow for this, the person can choose to present the required documentation at a police station specified by them at the time the requirement to produce the document(s) was made.
- The document MUST be produced within 7 days beginning on the day AFTER the day on which the requirement was made.
- Failing this, in exceptional circumstances, the person must produce it as soon as reaosnably practicable e.g. if they have been on holiday.
What information should be included on a HO/RT 1 form?
- Details of the person requiring to present the documentation
- The vehicle details
- Time and Date
- Locus
- Documents required
- Nominated Police Station
- Constables details
When a HO/RT is issued, does the documents required have to be produced in person?
No. It is perfectly acceptable to have these produced by a friend or relative on behalf of the person concerned.
What happens once documents have been produced at a Police Station?
- The Officer accepting their production will check them and, if necessary, record their details by completing a HO/RT 2 form for return to you.
- It is now very common for details of motoring documents to be avalaible to you on PNC but not always so a HO/RT is still a valid way of checking validity of driving documents.
What does Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 allow a Constable to do?
Size a vehicle and remove it until valid documents are produced or disposal of the vehicle is arranged.
This is used when a vehicle has been stopped on a road and the Constable requires the driver to provide their driving license and/or insurance and they fail to do so. If you have reasonable grounds to believe that they are committing an offence under Section 87(1) or 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, you may seize and remove the vehicle.
Note: removal is not an alternative to prosecution and where sufficient evidence exists, the driver should be cautioned and charged and offered a conditional offer of fixed penalty or reported to the PF.
THIS POWER MAY ONLY BE USED WHEN THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ON A ROAD.
What must you do before exercising the power of Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988?
- warn the driver that the vehicle will be seized unless valid documents are produced immediately.
- record this warning in officer’s notebook
- if it is not possible to carry out the warning, the reason why should be recorded instead.
- where the vehicle has failed to stop or driven off, the power can be used within 24 hours.
- reasonable force may be used to affect seizure but this does not include a power to enter a private dwelling house.
- However, a private dwelling does not include the garage, garden, land, driveway etc.
What 3 obligations are there to fulfil when there is a change of ownership of a vehicle?
1) Previous keeper writes the new keeper’s name and address in the ‘new keeper’s’ section and ticks appropriate box. They also write the new keeper’s details on the green section and thereafter the previous keeper sends the appropriate part to DVLA.
2) Both new and previous keeper sign and date the declaration section. The new owner retains the green section (New Keeper Supplement) until receipt of a new registration document.
3) If selling to a motor trader the owner must complete the relavent section, send it to DVLA and hand the ramining parts to the motor trader.
A person who contravenes any of the above commits and offence.
How should registration marks look?
Vehicles first registered after 1st Jan 1973
Front - white background with black characters
Back - yellow background with black characters
The background is of a reflex material.
The registration mark shall be fixed and displayed:-
- Motorcycles - on the back only
- any other vehicle - on both front and back of the vehicle.
Since 1st Sept 2001, registration marks consist of:
- 2 letters (referring to the region in the country the vehicle was first registered).
- 2 numbers (identify when it was issued).
- a space and 3 letters chosen at random.
E.g. BD51 SMR
What dimensions but the characters on number plates be?
- Characters (except 1 or I) must b 50mm wide.
- Characters must be 79mm tall.
- the thickness of the black print must be 14mm
- the space between characters must be 11mm.
- the space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 33mm.
- the margins at the top, bottom and side of the plate must be 11mm.
- vertical space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 19mm.
These dimensions are vital for ANPR to be able to read the number plates.
What offence is related to registration plates?
It is an offence to alter, rearrange or misrepresent letters or numbers in order to form names or words or in such a way that makes it difficult to read the registration number.
What is an excise license?
- Road Tax which is required for any vehicle which is used or kept on a public road.
- Once paid, info is kept on the DVLA database as having a full excise license.
- Valid for either 6 or 12 months & may be renewed from the 5th day of the month it expires OR for five working days after the end of the month which it expires.
- Can be purchased from an authorise Post Office, DVLA website or DVLA 24 hrs automated phone line.
What is the most common offence related to Vehicle Excise Licenses?
Section 29 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994
It is an offence for any person to keep or use a vehicle without a valid vehicle excise license.
Only exceptions are: 1) if the vehicle is exempt or 2) vehicle has been declared as off road i.e. SORN.
Note: if an employee that is driving, then only the owner who would be reported for this offence.
What Police Powers are there to deal with someone who has committed the offence of using or keeping a vehicle on a road without vehicle excise?
- The offender will be reported directly to the DVLA.
- Via a national form known as CLE2/6.
- SPR not required.
Which vehicles may be exempt from requiring an Excise Licence?
- Electric Vehicles
- Certain vehicles categorised as invalid carriages (mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs).
- Vehicles being taken to or from a prearranged Department of Transport test (MOT)
- Vehicles being used under the conditions of a Trade Licence.
- Vehicles used for agricultural, forestry or horticultural purposes, only on public roads when passing between different areas of land owned by the same person and where the distance between the 2 areas does not exceed 1.5km.
- HM Forces and Crown Vehicles (if exempt) e.g. police, fire service, ambulance vehicles, lifeboats and mine rescue vehicles.
- Historic vehicles, vehicles made before 1 January 1980.
What are trade licences?
- Special vehicle licences issued to Motor Trader and Vehicle Testers.
- Allows traders and testers to use any vehicles that are in their possession, through their trade to be used on public roads without the need for vehicle licences or registration.
- Only one vehicle, at any one time, may be used on a single Trade License.
- If you are going to test-drive a vehicle, you can road test it without it being registered or without it displaying a vehicle excise licence provided a trade licence is fitted.
MOTOR TRADER = a person who manfuctures, repairs or deals in mechanically propelled vechiles and also includes those whose trade involved car valeting or the fitting of motor accessories.
VEHICLE TESTER = a person who tests mechanically propelled vehicles on the roads in the course of their business.
How does the appearance of a Trade License differ from a normal Excise licence?
- Trade licence registration plates will be white with red lettering.
- Trade licence exhibited in a container attached to the front trade plate.
- Both trade plates must be securely fixed to the front and rear of the vehicle being used.
- For a motorcycle, the rear plate ONLY.
What are the conditions of use for a Trade Licence?
- Only in connection with a motor trader or vehicle trader’s business.
- Vehicles may only be used on roads but not kept on roads.
- When delivering a vehicle (via the most direct route).
- To demonstrate vehicles to prospective customers.
- To test vehicles.
What is an MOT and who carries them out?
- A vehicle test to ensure roadworthiness of a motor vehicle.
- Without an MOT (conducted, passed and certificated), motor vehicles cannot be used on a road.
- A motor mechanic who is qualified as an Authorised Vehicle Tester will carry out the acual test.
- Tests are carried out at garages authorised by the DOT. They are known as Vehicle Testing Stations.
What does Section 47 of the Road Traffic Act, 1988 create an offence for?
For anyone person to use, or cause or permit the use, of a motor vehicle one a road without a valid Test Certificate (MOT).
Which vehicles require a MOT test certificate? When do vehicles require this?
- Motor cars
- Motor cycles
- Goods vehicles not exceeding 3500kg gross vehicle weight.
All NEW vehicles require a Test Certificate 3 years after the first date of registration.
All vehicles that have been used on a road PRIOR to being registered will need one 3 years from the manufacture date.
Thereafter, an MOT test is required to be passed annually, prior to its expiry date.
When are vehicles exempt from holding a valid MOT test certificate?
- Travelling to or from a pre-arranged test (the most direct route must be taken to the test centre)
- After a test, taking vehicles to or from a place of repair (to a specialist repair and back to the MOT centre for re-examination)
- Vehicles removed or seized by official bodies such as Police or Customs & Excise
- Police vehicles (maintained by own vehicle mechanics)
- Foreign vehicles used temporarily in the UK e.g. French worker on month contract in UK with 4 year old vehicle. However, if sold car would need to register and have it tested first.
- Certain other vehicles are exempt if they are subject to other testing requirements e.g. heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles.
What does Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 require a person to produce?
- A valid test certificate
IF either, that person is: - driving a motor vehicle on a road;
- suspected of having committed a motoring offence on a road;
- suspected of driving a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, when it was involved in a road collision.
Officers would usually require the driver to produce their driving license and insurance as well.
What is a VT20/TRE?
- a MOT test certificate which is classed as a receipt of the MOT test having taken place.
- it was introduced to reduce fraud and to allow information to be placed straight onto a national database.
- this SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON as proof of testing.
- it’s VALIDITY must be checked via PNC or by logging onto appropriate website.
- the VT20/TRE form outlines the procedure to be followed to confirm that the certificate is a genuine record of VOSA’s MOT database.
What exemptions are there for failing to produce an MOT test when so required?
- If the person produces it within 7 days, commencing the day after the requirement was made. The certificate must be produced at a police station specified by the person at the time the requirement was made (as per HO/RT1 form) OR
- It was produced there, at the requested police office, as soon as was reasonably practicable e.g. test certificate in a business premises elsewhere and has to be posted.
Note: it is NOT necessary for the driver to produce the test certificate in PERSON.
What other offences are related to MOT certificates?
- Causing or permitting someone to drive a vehicle without a valid test certificate being in force.
- The owner AND driver can be charged if they are not the same person.
- However, an employee driving on behalf of an employer would generally not be charged.
- To prove GUILT, both parties should know a VALID MOT is not in force.
What Police Powers can be used to deal with a Section 165 offence?
Non-endorsable Conditional Offer (fine but no penalty points) of Fixed Penalty.
What offence is covered by Section 87 of the Road Traffic Act 1988?
- to drive, or cause or permit another person to drive;
- any class of motor vehicle on a road;
- otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising them to drive a motor vehicle of that class.
What Police Powers are available when an offence under Section 87 occurs?
- You could consider an Endorsable Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty (i.e. fine and penalty points)
- You could also seize the vehicle and remove it under Section 87 (1) or 143 of the Road Traffic Act if you have reasonable grounds to believe that they are committing an offence under these sections.