Tax Discs Thefts
 

As the UK government is clamping down on vehicles that do not have a current tax disc displayed. This has meant that many bikers are finding that they are having their tax discs stolen off their bikes. Even with the secure tax disc holder. Apparently they just snap the whole unit off.

A tip I have heard about is to photocopy your current VALID tax disc and leave this on the bike and keep the original with you.

This is by all accounts within the law as you have a valid tax disc displayed, but you must carry the original with you at all times when on your bike.

Anyone else heard of this as its £5.00 for each replacement tax disc and in London this is a major problem.

Cheers


Julio

Yes, a friend of mine living/working in London displays a photocopy. He says it's legal and most bikes he sees parked in the open have a copy not the original.



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Barry
3AJ Tenere

Hi Julio,
I scanned mine into my home computer and then printed off a colour copy. It is only a cheap printer but you can't tell the difference between the copy and the original. No real need to carry the original with me. I keep that safe at home.

Hi

Make sure that your holder is waterproof as if you have used an inkjet printer, the ink will run as soon as it gets wet.

Cheers

Julio

I checked with the rozzers and it's ILLEGAL to carry a copied tax disc. I showed them my copy and they told me you would get a fine/points if the police inspected your bike. Actually, it's worse than not having one at all, as it counts as document counterfeiting. Yikes! They told me to just display the original, but "don't make it too obvious". I used clear plastic sheet (the sticky stuff) and sealed the disc to my forks between the yokes. Very hard to remove... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

The offence for displaying a fraudulent tax disc (e.g: one which has been copied or altered) is 'Deception' This offence carries a hefty fine or imprisonment. This would be unlikely, however, if you could prove that the bike was yours and that it was taxed at the time the offence was committed.

If your bike is spotted not displaying a tax disc a check would be carried out with DVLA to establish whether valid tax is has been issued. If no disc is displayed, but the check shows that bike has current valid tax it would be unlikely that further action would be taken, especially if you could show that the disc was stolen.

The best option is to display the current valid tax disc and if it get stolen report the theft to the police and place a note in the tax disc holder with the crime reference number on it. Apply for a replacement disc on a for available from the post office. There is a small fee for this.

[This message has been edited by mcdarbyfeast (edited 05 November 2003).]

[This message has been edited by mcdarbyfeast (edited 05 November 2003).]