Lost-in-France.com

Share Twitter Myspace Digg Yahoo Googlize this Facebook Print Email

As most of us are aware, there are occasions when the British over-enthusiastically apply European Union laws, sometimes totally destroying the good intentions and good sense.

As long ago as 1982, the then EEC issued Directive 83/182, allowing vehicles registered in one European country to be driven for up to six months in a year, CONTINUOUS OR OTHERWISE, in another European country before Road Tax became due. This was intended to regularise and ease the movement of vehicles.

Three years ago, perhaps in response to the number of Eastern European cars in Britain, the DVLA issued a press release on the subject which, probably deliberately, omitted the words "continuous or otherwise," so completely changing the intention of the Directive.

At the start of 2009, a pilot scheme called "Operation Andover" commenced in Northamptonshire, with any foreign vehicle seen just twice, more than six months apart, being impounded without warning or the opportunity to offer evidence.

My own car was "impounded" in March after two short visits totalling just 67 days, having been seen in June 2008 and March 2009.

It apparently did not occur to the Northamptonshire Police that the reason it had not been seen for none months was because it had returned to the Continent. Or perhaps they did not want to consider this possibility.

Because I caused a serious fuss, I managed to regain possession of my vehicle without paying the 420 pounds the Police demanded but, when I complained, I was met with a barrier of evasion and misinformation, both from the Police and the DVLA.

A suggestion from the Leicestershire Liberal Democrats, who took up my case, that warning notices should be issued before impounding was immediately dismissed.

Even worse, the Association of Chief Police Officers confirmed to the Automobile Association that any foreign car seen twice, more than six months apart, WOULD be impounded without warning.

The implications for ex-patriates and, more especially, for foreign tourists with limited English is horrendous, especially as, with a profit of 400 pounds to be made on each impounding, this scheme will certainly soon be taken up nationwide.

Indeed, it is possible that someone who visits the U.K. just once a year, for the same couple of weeks, say in August, could become a victim of this ill-thought-out scheme. Their vehicle could be filmed on August 14th of the first year, then on August 2nd of the next year - twice in one year, more than six months apart - and their car could be impounded.

The fact that there is evidence that new high-value cars are being targetted rather than older unroadworthy vehicles gives the lie to any claims that this is a "safety" campaign. It is clearly just a money-making operation aimed at innocent motorists.

So may I urge all ex-patriates or French tourists, who visit the U.K. more than once in a year, to keep all their old ferry tickets and other evidence with them and to demand that these are examined by any police officer who attempts to take their vehicle.