Pensioner prosecuted over £35 unpaid car tax weeks after wife's death > 자유게시판

A pensioner has been prosecuted over £35 of unpaid car tax just weeks after his wife's death under the controversial Single Justice Procedure.

The 82-year-old in sheltered housing was convicted after the DVLA found he had not paid the bill on his Ford B-Max in September 2024.

He wrote to the court, which heard the case last month, explaining that his wife died on August 6, 2024 and that he was 'preoccupied'.

'I paid the tax as soon as I became aware that I had forgotten,' he added.

Due to the way the Single Justice Procedure (SPJ) operates, the DVLA does not routinely look at the evidence presented and defendants do not have to attend court.

As prosecutor DVLA could have decided to withdraw the prosecution on the grounds it wasn't in the public interest.

But because of the fast-track design of the SPJ, this was not considered.

Court papers seen by the Standard reveal that the pensioner, who lives in the Saffron Walden constituency, was prosecuted after the previous car insurance expired on July 21 last year.




The 82-year-old in sheltered housing was convicted after the DVLA found he had not paid the bill on his Ford B-Max in September 





Due to the way the Single Justice Procedure (SPJ) operates, the DVLA does not routinely look at the evidence presented 

He received a letter September 7, a month after his wife's death, and after there was no reply the DVLA said a criminal prosecution followed.

The pensioner pleaded guilty in writing to a charge of keeping a vehicle without a valid vehicle licence and https://f-i.us/ he was given a three-month condition discharge.