Four in 10 bikers dodge road tax

[Gromit]

"The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency risks becoming "a complete laughing stock" after it emerged nearly 40% of motorbikes were untaxed, MPs have said.
Evasion rates among all road users rose to 5% in 2006-7, costing taxpayers �214 million, up from 3.6% in 2005-6."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7200066 .stm

Are the penalties too lenient or do the police not bother to target motorcycles for this offence? Are bikers more likely to have contempt for the law? Or is there another reason for the high evasion rate?

[redcrx]

how can they dodge it? surely bikes come under the same rules as cars and the SORN system.

I know many biker and they are all taxed, some dont display it though because of fear of it being stolen and as far as i know this is allowed.

[Oneeyedvic]

red - it is not allowed - thought the police will normally not prosecute.

I'd be interested to know how they got their figures - as there are a lot of bikers who are fair weather riders - ie only use their bike over the 6 months when the weather is (sometimes) nicer. I used to do this and declare my vehicle off road for the other 6 months.

[redcrx]

thanks OEV I shall get the relevant details and pass it on to those that dont display. Those bikers I know are generally all year round bikers but a few are 6 month taxers only

[New Judge]

Beware of what you are told.

The report says �Nearly 40% of motorcycles are now unlicensed.� What it does not say is whether this percentage includes those which are declared off-road, of which many may be the �six month� bikers mentioned. They would indeed be unlicensed.

It also says �...motorists who refused to tax a vehicle and register as its keeper were often trying to avoid congestion charges and conceal criminal activity.� This may be true, but motorcycles are exempt from the congestion charge.

I�m sure there is a problem with untaxed and unregistered motorcycles as indeed there is with vehicles in general. I remain to be convinced that it is as severe as this report says it is.

[saxy_jag]

They're quick enough to let us know when tax is due on our bikes, and quick enough to send SORN reminders as well. Does make you wonder how some people get away with it.

[saxy_jag]

"it emerged that 38% of motorcyclists evaded vehicle excise duty (VED) in 2006, compared with 30% the previous year."

Evasion isn't SORN, although the article doesn't say how many of the evaders are riding around with a SORN on their bike.

[Loosehead]

Well if they are on the road with no tax then they will be getting caught in huge numbers. So I think that some of the percentage quoted is bikes that are not taxed but also not declared SORN when they should be. Since the insurance/tax/Mot integrated online system they can tell if a bike is legal by the plate. Yes I'd imagine there are a lot of unregistered bikes about but surely not the 40% figures being bandied about. I renew my bike tax on line, in fact I have the V11 on my desk now for the end ofg this month.

[Loosehead]

when say unregistered, i mean untracable!

[4GS]

Don't forget the influx for untaxed no MOT and who knows uninsured? immigrant drivers:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=509613&in_page_i d=1770

[Gromit]

Trust the irrepressible Daily Mail to get the Immigrant angle on this story.

[China Doll]

So no one heard that Dolcies has gone in to remission then?

[Bewlay Bros]

My biggest issue is why they don't say 2 out of 5.

I think that sounds better.

[youngmafbog]

Grommit, The Sun got it too. It does exist so dont blinker yourself.