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If the camera van is hidden and there are no signs warning of camera enforcement will my speeding ticket be deemed invalid? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 18:32

If the camera van is hidden and there are no signs warning of camera enforcement will my speeding ticket be deemed invalid?

Can a 17 year old British driving licence holder use it in Bulgaria where the age limit for a driver is 18? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 18:27

I am 16 years old and 17 very soon. When I get my British driving licence will I be able to use it in Bulgaria where the age for a driving licence is 18?

If the camera van is illegally parked will that invalidate the ticket? Do the police take into account the possible inaccuracy of speedometers? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 18:08

I was doing 47mph in a 40mph limit by a mobile van speed camera which was parked on white line. Is it legal for them to park there to do this as this means parking should not take place. Do the police also take into account my having a older car where the speedometer could be inaccurate (say by 5mph).

Can a bus company put a bus stop outside my drive? I now have people sitting on my wall looking in my home... — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 17:21

Can a bus company put a bus stop outside my drive? I now have people sitting on my wall looking in my home...

What is the procedure for exporting a car from the UK to Poland for a Polish national? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 16:48

What is the procedure about buying a car in the UK and taking it to Poland to register and use over there. Are there any DVLA charges or paperwork required?

I bought a car and insured it but the registered keeper lives at another address. The car has been stolen and the insurers want to know why it is not registered to me... — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 16:29

I bought a car which I insured as me being the main driver and a second driver. The second driver is the Registered Keeper living in a different address from mine. My car was stolen and I have made a claim to the insurance company.I have just received a letter from my insurers asking me to advise them why the vehicle was registered in the other driver's name and in a different address. Is there any legal implication if the registered keeper is not the policy holder or the owner of the car?

A large caravan is parked across from my house meaning lorries cannot get through: is there anything I can do to get them to move it? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 15:50

I have to go out to move my car from outside my home when a large vehicle such as a bin lorry needs to pass. The reason is that there is a caravan permanently parked straight opposite my home. Is there anything that can be done as this surely is against the traffic laws?

I passed my driving test years ago but do I class as a Probationary Driver under the New Drivers Act for other vehicles if I take subsequent tests to add categories (such as HGV or motorcycles) to my licence? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 15:27

I have held a full UK driving licence for approx 15 years. I have recently passed my Class 2 HGV test and just wanted to clarify if I will now fall under the terms of the New Drivers Act whereby a 2 year "probation period" seems to be put in place.

I have recieved demands from a private parking company for using my parking place without displaying a valid permit but they are now trying to claim my employer should pay as the registered keeper... — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-23 14:27

We have recently been issued with 16 'trespass notices' by the private parking company which controls the residents' car park attached to our flat. We are entitled to park in this car park but were fined because we did not realise a new permit had been issued and were displaying an out-of-date permit. I sent an appeal on these grounds which was (of course) rejected. I researched into the matter and realised that this company has no legal position. So we didn't think about it any longer until my boyfriend's employer received 16 demands from Commercial Collection Services after their details were obtained from the DVLA, being the registered owner of this leased vehicle. We realise that there is still no legal grounds on which to recover this money but we are afraid that his employer will just pay out the money and then recover it direct from his salary. My questions are: What can we do to stop this company from harrassing us and the company? Does the company have the right to deduct this money from my boyfriend's salary? If we were to recover this deduction could we sue the original company who issued the demands or would we have to sue the employer (putting my boyfriend in a bad position)? Any other advice you could offer on this would be most appreciated.

I recently received a SP30 fixed penalty notice which I simply forgot to pay within the 28 days. What will happen now? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-07-23 14:22

I recently received a SP30 fixed penalty notice which I simply forgot to pay within the 28 days. It's not a matter of life or death.. £60 and 3 points. There is a great deal going on in my life right now that just put this very much to the back of my mind. I remembered when I found the letter last week, and sent it off immediately along with a cheque and my license. I've now received a letter stating that I'm no longer entitled to be dealt with by the fixed penalty system, and to wait for police to contact me regarding prosecution. What will happen now? I'm more than willing to pay the penalty as my returned cheque demonstrates. I forgot.. simple as that. Does such a simple oversight now give me a criminal record?

Is it an offence to enter a bus lane at a restricted time to pass a driver who is turning right? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-22 14:22

Is it an offence to enter a bus lane at a restricted time to pass a driver who is turning right?

I drove round a traffic system twice and have now been fined twice for driving in a bus lane? Am I required to pay both? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-22 14:16

I've received a fine for driving in a bus lane but because I went round twice I've been sent two fines. Firstly, I don't think its fair to charge me because it wasn't obvious to me it was a bus lane because I wouldn't have driven in it if it was. However I've sent payment off for the first fine. Do you think I should have to pay for the second one too or is that unfair?

Is it a legal requirement to have a driver's side rear view mirror? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-22 12:23

I have recently been issued with a fixed penalty at the roadside for having a shattered (but usable) driver's side wing-mirror. Are there any grounds for appeal against this? It is broken, but is still able to be used for purpose. If I could appeal, it would purely be on grounds of principle.

Should a driver be notified of an alleged speeding offence within 14 days? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-22 12:11

Should a driver be notified of an alleged speeding offence within 14 days?

Disabled driver received ticket for parking in area where "no loading" restrictions apply... — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-22 10:02

I was parked in an area where loading restrictions apply but I have parked there many times before. I also have a disabled badge but I still got a ticket. Should I appeal?

Will I be fined if I drove down a pedestrianised street that does not permit any vehicles apart from trams? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-21 19:27

Will I be fined if I drove down a pedestrianised street that does not permit any vehicles apart from trams?

If a job requires a maximum of 3 penalty points and I have 6 penalty points but with three points soon to reach three years old, should I apply for the position? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-21 19:12

I currently have 6 points on my driving licence (cameras) one of which will be three years old shortly. I want to apply for a job which requires only 3 points. I understand that the points last 3 years but actually stay on the licence for 4 years. What is my position?

Can I keep a car on private Housing Association land SORN but untaxed or do I need their express permission — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-07-21 18:52

I currently own two cars, one taxed, insured and MOTd, the other insured, current MOT and SORN off the road while I "tart" some body work up before selling it. However I live on a Housing Association estate and my housing officer is insisting I tax the second vehicle as well. The cul-de-sac in which both cars are parked is not a public road as I have checked this with the local highways department. But now she says i need her permission to park the car and she won't give it unless I tax it. Technically if the cul de sac is not adopted by the council then I believe it is classed as private land which in turn is owned by the Housing Association. But as I pay rent and service charges and have no front-of-house parking can she legally insist I tax the car even though its legally SORN off the road. After the first initial complaint from her I've now also received an offence letter from DVLA which I'm sure when they check the cul-de-sac's status will be dropped/quashed, but I'm really annoyed at the Housing Officer's stance that I must Tax it as well.

My son's friend allowed my son to borrow his car and my son drove it without insurance and was then involved in a collision with a motorbike which was not his fault. What offences have been committed and by whom? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-07-19 02:26

My 19 year old son - who has only been driving for just under a year - borrowed, with permission, a friend's insured car without having insurance himself and drove it with another friend as a passenger. An 18 year old motorbike rider collided with the vehicle (the bike was on the wrong side of the road after taking a bend too fast and wide) which was not my son's fault. The bike rider injured his ankle as a result. The police arrived and questioned all present at the scene, took the bike and towed the car away and simply let my son go saying that he will hear from them about a Court case in due course. All parties also were checked out at hospital with no injuries but for a broken ankle. What offences have been committed and by whom? Referring to the car owner for letting my son borrow it, my son for driving it and the bike rider for crashing into him - and the penalties. Should he instruct a lawyer now or wait for Court papers?

I have a ticket for jumping a red light but my friend was driving and he has now returned to Spain. What should I do? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-07-19 01:46

I have today received a ticket for jumping a red light, I need to supply them with the driver details etc. The problem is that my car was being used by one of my friends who was on holiday here in the UK. He actually lives in Spain and I am not sure what I should be filling in on the form the police have sent me. Do I fill in my friend's name and his address in Spain?