Always remember when moving house not only to update the details on your driving licence, but also to update the v5c (vehicle registration document). Failure to do so could result in speeding tickets being sent to your old address which you would be unable respond to.
When a vehicle is found to be committing a motoring offence such as speeding, a notice of intended prosecution is sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. The notice requires the registered keeper of the vehicle to identify who was driving the vehicle when the offence took place. If the v5c is out of date, the notice will be sent to the old address. If the notice of intended prosecution is not responded to within 28 days then the offence of failing to furnish information (failure to identify the driver) is committed. The registered keeper of the vehicle would be summonsed to Court. The summons would be sent to the address on the v5c. The registered keeper would be unaware of any proceedings against them.
Under these circumstances, the hearing would take place in the absence of the registered keeper, and would result in 6 points being ordered onto their driving licence without their knowledge. Just two of these offences could result in a 6 month totting up ban.
I frequently represent clients whose have been disqualified in their absence, and this tends to be the common cause. Check your v5c today to make sure your licence is protected.
Whilst there is much that can be done to overcome a driving ban under these circumstances, it is a much simpler solution to ensure that all relevant motoring documents are up to date in the first place. Ten minutes of personal admin today could prevent months off the road or a complicated legal argument in the future.
At Forster Dean Motoring Law, we specialise in defending all types of motoring offences. If you have been accused of failing to furnish information, or any other motoring offence, please contact our free advice line on 0333 323 1830 to speak to a Specialist Motoring Lawyer today.
Written by Expert Motoring Lawyer, Head of Motoring Law at Forster Dean Solicitors, Alison Ashworth.