Scarab:
Sadly the oldest vehicle on the fleet at the moment is a 2009 so no Digitacho. I am actually an agency driver but its a pretty sweet semi-perm posting and I’m really enjoying it, asking to be moved to something else would be shooting myself in the foot I fear
Yes he is working on an easter Saturday, I was amazed too, but I believe he likes to feel important and use the old ceremonial Merc as often as possible.
Alex
In that case Alex make the most of it , this LibCon govt. has pledged to cut red tape , make things easier for the man on the street etc . Make him zbing bleed ! Best of luck and let us all know how you get on. Jim
That’s handy, him being the minister for transport. Ask him to write a letter on house of commons notepaper, (he’s bound to have some with him) giving you permission to continue driving for another week. Being minister i’d say he has this power. This would decide if he’s serious about cutting red tape.
The chances of being stopped are probably very low (once in 20 years for me), remember though that the digi tacho will record all that non driving for 365 days and it must be downloaded by your employer every 56 days so there is a risk if vosa ever check your employers records.
You could try borrowing somebody else’s card?
Scarab:
HOWEVER, last week the DVLA and VOSA’s Policy department issued an internal memo to all officers that as a huge backlog had mounted due to the re-issuing of expired cards for the end of this month then the 15 day must be enforced strictly to avoid people abusing the delays.
How the hell would anybody be “abusing the delays” How can bending over backwards to keep records despite their ■■■■ up regarding a piece of equipment you’ve had to pay for already be abusing the system? If think a Freedom of Information request is in order to find this memo to see if it really says that. They’re abusing you, best find as much evidence it it as possible.
You’ve collected a lot of evidence and I think going to see your MP is a very good idea and fingers crossed he writes you a note.
But failing that, the odds of you getting stopped are very low, just keep everything else squeaky clean and avoid checkpoints. IF you get stopped, try to explain everything as best you can, even ■■■■ some boaby if you have to.
However, if VOSA do the usual and throw a fine at you, take it to court. I think out of all the cases in the world you would have EVERY single trucker behind you and it’s something the papers would love! CPS would drop it like a ton of bricks.
Either way, you’ve got your mates and every member on here to back you up, it would be one hell of a petition!
Someone might correct me on this, but it doesn’t matter whether you drive an analogue vehicle or digi vehicle, without a card you are breaking the law, as you have to carry your digicard with you when driving an analogue vehicle to show a continous 28 days records.
but in your situation i might be tempted to chance it, sods law being what it is though, not been stopped for at least 10 years, so that would bound to be the time i got stopped!
truckerjon:
Someone might correct me on this, but it doesn’t matter whether you drive an analogue vehicle or digi vehicle, without a card you are breaking the law, as you have to carry your digicard with you when driving an analogue vehicle to show a continous 28 days records.
That won’t be an issue as he has reported the card as malfunctioning and returned it to the DVLA. If he were to be stopped while driving an analogue vehicle this will show up when VOSA check to see if he has been issued with a card and he won’t be committing an offence.
Seen my local MP today who, remember is a minister in the DfT, told me there was no exemption he could give, and all he offered to do was get his secretary to chase up the DVLA for me to see if it could be posted if it hasn’t already.
Ah well… I’ve done all I can! shall just keep making my records and I reckon if it ever went to court no magistrate could ever claim I haven’t done everything possible in my power to try and stay legal!
There’s certainly nothing else I can think of.
Scarab , I notice youre online , just being nosey how did you get on with youre MP ? Have you been issued with a universal exemption from all rules and regs due to the mental anguish you suffered at the hands of the incompetant ZBs of Swansea ? Or did he just bullpoo you. Jim
Arse hole. He had a golden chance there to do a direct service to the common man, but no, all he can do is bleat and wring his hands. Cutting red tape my arse.
Sorry Alex I never got on to second page of thread , me old mate Al Tseimer again . Shame you got no result though you could maybe spend some of youre downtime writing to newspapers , otherwise have a nice easter Im off to the pub now Jim
I think this is bloody disgraceful. You’re being punished for their inability to do things quickly enough, and the law as it stands is clearly not fit for purpose to protect you from it.
I’m sure your MP had every sympathy, but his hands are probably tied. MPs and even Ministers have very little power now, especially over things that are decided in Brussels. Sad but true.
Typical of the time serving ‘jobsworths’ who can only push paper and not make any decisions,that make up the so called goverment of this country.Just imagine if they’d had this attitude at Dunkirk,we’d be ruled from over The Channel now,oh forgot,we are!Go to the council,tell them you’re Eithiopian/somali/east european,delete as aplicable with ten kids and claim your fifteen hundred quid a week you’d be entitled to,oops another mistake,if your British and working your entitled to nowt,not even to keep working when your in the right,hope it turns out ok!
Well I have to say that since the MP handed it over to the “party staff” service has been much better.
Had several calls a day from them with updates, apparently if its not with me by tomorrow then they have a meeting with the Minister in charge of VOSA to try and grant me a personal exemption.
Scarab:
Well I have to say that since the MP handed it over to the “party staff” service has been much better.
Had several calls a day from them with updates, apparently if its not with me by tomorrow then they have a meeting with the Minister in charge of VOSA to try and grant me a personal exemption.
Can’t really fault them for that!
Bollox. They’ve dropped you right in it and now you can’t find fault?
How can bending over backwards to keep records despite their ■■■■ up regarding a piece of equipment you’ve had to pay for already be abusing the system? If think a Freedom of Information request is in order to find this memo to see if it really says that. They’re abusing you, best find as much evidence it it as possible.
