Maximum distance allowable to pre booked MOT

[SambaS]

...for a vehicle with expired MOT.

Without having to have the age old argument about this, I know there are lots of threads about this that DID provide an answer however.

I have just been advised by a Sergeant for my local forces Road Traffic Police that recent case law states a maximum distance of 20 miles. Does anyone know anything about this or where I can view the case law?

[CYMR0]

I don't suppose this particular sergeant did anything as radical as advise of the name of the case, rather than just his interpretation?

[SambaS]

He's finding me it at work tonight. I'm in the unusual position of having made quite good friends with him, I also believe him to be wrong but we'll see.

[andyiley]

As far as I am aware (unless this has changed recently) there is no maximum.

[Derek Smith]

SambaS said:

...for a vehicle with expired MOT.

Without having to have the age old argument about this, I know there are lots of threads about this that DID provide an answer however.

I have just been advised by a Sergeant for my local forces Road Traffic Police that recent case law states a maximum distance of 20 miles. Does anyone know anything about this or where I can view the case law?

For a number of reasons I would expect that the decision was applicable to that specific case rather than overall guidance.

[Gareth79]

Derek Smith said:

For a number of reasons I would expect that the decision was applicable to that specific case rather than overall guidance.

I can imagine people who live more than 20 miles from an MOT station might have a problem otherwise

[carinaman]

Is that twenty miles as the crow flies or by the odometer?

I do hope it's not another case of a police officer making it up as they go along. You'd think they'd give it a bit of a rest at weekends.

[Tony V8]

I have always thought that there was no distance restriction on this, but the vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition, as in construction and use regulations. I live in the Scottish highlands, and although I am within 20 miles of a test facility, I know of many that aren't.

[carinaman]

I once met a police officer that mentioned their Law App on their iPhone. Perhaps it mentions the 20 mile limit on that? Saves looking at dusty old law books at the police station doesn't it?

[peterperkins]

Here's a scenario.

1) I live near john O groats.
2) I have used my local garage at JOG for ten years and have seen a car I want to buy at Lands end.
3) I go down to LE and find it has no MOT, I ring up my garage and book it in for one and drive it home. (Having checked it is not in a dangerous condition)

Result no issues whatsoever it's booked in for an MOT and there is no maximum distance you can travel prescribed in law asfaik. It's perfectly reasonable to use a garage you are familiar with/trust.

I've done it myself over at least 200 miles (London to Yorkshire) and I'm a serving officer.
Be interested in what happens if there is no mot garage within 20 miles.

[Tony V8]

carinaman said:

I once met a police officer that mentioned their Law App on their iPhone. Perhaps it mentions the 20 mile limit on that? Saves looking at dusty old law books at the police station doesn't it?

do they have, or did they have, dusty old law books? I also wonder why they would be dusty, ooh, no I don't.

[Derek Smith]

Tony V8 said:

I have always thought that there was no distance restriction on this, but the vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition, as in construction and use regulations. I live in the Scottish highlands, and although I am within 20 miles of a test facility, I know of many that aren't.

That, I think, is the critical point. If the vehicle is roadworthy then no harm done. If it is not then the driver should b e reported for that offence.

[mike01606]

I was in this position last week with a motorbike I'd restored. It had been SORN for several years.

.GOV.UK says the nearest one. So even though it wasn't my preferred choice that was what I did.

[Nigel Worc's]

mike01606 said:

I was in this position last week with a motorbike I'd restored. It had been SORN for several years.

.GOV.UK says the nearest one. So even though it wasn't my preferred choice that was what I did.

I think you'll find that is what some people in authority would prefer the law to be, but as far as I know, the law doesn't say that.

I'm sure we'd soon become aware on here if that was the case.

It would actually make sense to be honest, but a lot of motoring law doesn't make sense, it is a shame that the .GOV.UK websites are allowed to say things that aren't true.

[Rovinghawk]

mike01606 said:

.GOV.UK says the nearest one.

.gov.uk doesn't say that's the law, because it isn't.

Difficult though it might be to believe, governments tell fibs to help achieve 'desirable' behaviour change.

[aw51 121565]

Rovinghawk said:

mike01606 said:

.GOV.UK says the nearest one.

.gov.uk doesn't say that's the law, because it isn't.

Difficult though it might be to believe, governments tell fibs to help achieve 'desirable' behaviour change.

to put it in a different form:

gov.uk can state what it likes (ooh, it just did! ) - but just because it's "the UK government website and portal" it doesn't mean what it states is correct or even accurate .

OP, you need to ask him to cite the case law he claims applies here and the post it on here . As you are, I'd also be expecting an ominous silence .

[Who me ?]

mike01606 said:

I was in this position last week with a motorbike I'd restored. It had been SORN for several years.

.GOV.UK says the nearest one. So even though it wasn't my preferred choice that was what I did.

If it was a car and nearest place had very fit fitters, I'd be looking elsewhere, before your indicator bulbs were the wrong shade of orange or your seat belts do not retract at Mach 1, there's imaginary nails in tyres and the car almost jumps off the brake test rollers. (And when you look at the never used and always inflated spare tyre, you find it's flat with a screw in it,but not embedded).

[agtlaw]

SambaS said:

...for a vehicle with expired MOT.

Without having to have the age old argument about this, I know there are lots of threads about this that DID provide an answer however.

I have just been advised by a Sergeant for my local forces Road Traffic Police that recent case law states a maximum distance of 20 miles. Does anyone know anything about this or where I can view the case law?

He's talking bks.

[Lowtimer]

It is normal for individual policemen (just as for everyone else) to be ignorant of various aspects of the law. This should not be a surprise as there is so much law that literally no-one can know more than a tiny fraction of it. It is however disappointing when they start spouting off without checking their facts. You could ask him for the statutory basis for his opinion, but it is probably easier just to get on with driving to the more distant MOT station (pre-booked) of your choice.

[anonymous-user]

SambaS said:

...for a vehicle with expired MOT.

Without having to have the age old argument about this, I know there are lots of threads about this that DID provide an answer however.

I have just been advised by a Sergeant for my local forces Road Traffic Police that recent case law states a maximum distance of 20 miles. Does anyone know anything about this or where I can view the case law?

Busllstting police office in "spouts bullst" shocker.