What had Ed Sheeran done wrong?

[Beebo]

Anyone understand this story? There must be some information missing here.
Why should the car be insured if it’s not on the road?
What has it got to do with DVLA?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpw9v0rlj5go

 

[Shortfall]

Surely the real crime is him converting it to electric. I mean just why?

 

[Drago]

A vehicle must have valid insurance unless it is declared SORN. It would seem Ed had not declared it SORN. Silly boy.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles

There is no defence in law for car insurance offences. Being in a coma, your dog dying, having dementia and being sent to a care home (this one happens), the elderly car drver dying and the car being left to the non-driving spouse who doesn't understand the rules, none of it counts - you will be found guilty. It is an "absolute offence."

It is considered a dishonesty offence, so will show on an enhanced DBS check for all time. People dont appreciate how serious the consequences can be.

 

[Fastpedaller]

A vehicle must have valid insurance unless it is declared SORN. It would seem Ed had not declared it SORN. Silly boy.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles

There is no defence in law for car insurance offences. Being in a coma, your dog dying, having dementia and being sent to a care home (this one happens), the elderly car drver dying and the car being left to the non-driving spouse who doesn't understand the rules, none of it counts - you will be found guilty. It is an "absolute offence."

It is considered a dishonesty offence, so will show on an enhanced DBS check for all time. People dont appreciate how serious the consequences can be.

Probably at it's worst a 90% reduced sentence for a repeat offender judging by today's news.

 

[lenfield]

More importantly why has it taken 5 years so far to convert a car to an EV?

 

[Webbo2]

I would have fined him for fvcking up a classic car. If you want electric buy electric.

 

[Drago]

More importantly why has it taken 5 years so far to convert a car to an EV?

Clearly the converters have heard him sing and arent anxious for him to return.

 

[fossyant]

TBH, I suspect he hadn't even though about SORN. His manager/PA etc should have. Ed does come over as having ADHD, as do many folk who are really good at some stuff, but crap at other, like 'life admin'.

I'd whack him with his best guitar for converting that car to electric. Restore, yes, but not to leccy. I'd allow an improved engine tune etc, but it has to stay original with a car like that.

 

[Drago]

Alas, the law is that while Ed can delegate the task he cannot delegate the responsibility.

 

[Sharky]

Slightly OT, but there is a car parked on the road, a few miles away. I've checked and it has a valid MOT and insurance, but both the near side tyres are completely flat. Thus not driveable atm. It's been like this for a few months.

Does this satisfy legal criteria.

 

[DCLane]

Slightly OT, but there is a car parked on the road, a few miles away. I've checked and it has a valid MOT and insurance, but both the near side tyres are completely flat. Thus not driveable atm. It's been like this for a few months.

Does this satisfy legal criteria.

As long as it's taxed as well then it can be on the road.

 

[spen666]

A vehicle must have valid insurance unless it is declared SORN. It would seem Ed had not declared it SORN. Silly boy.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles

There is no defence in law for car insurance offences. Being in a coma, your dog dying, having dementia and being sent to a care home (this one happens), the elderly car drver dying and the car being left to the non-driving spouse who doesn't understand the rules, none of it counts - you will be found guilty. It is an "absolute offence."

It is considered a dishonesty offence, so will show on an enhanced DBS check for all time. People dont appreciate how serious the consequences can be.

It is not a dishonesty offence.

Dishonesty requires mens rea. This as you rightly say earlier is an offence of strict liability which means there is no mens rea element.

 

[Drago]

Slightly OT, but there is a car parked on the road, a few miles away. I've checked and it has a valid MOT and insurance, but both the near side tyres are completely flat. Thus not driveable atm. It's been like this for a few months.

Does this satisfy legal criteria.

It its clearly in a state of disrepair, then even if it has current documents it may be classed as abandoned. It is an offence to abandon a vehicle on public land so your local council may or may not take action depending on their policy.

I've one on the go myself at the moment. A Fiat 500, nice looking little car on a 61 plate, taxed and tested. It appeared on a street in May and hasn't moved since. Best case scenario its broken down and the owner cant afford to sort it. Over the ensuing 2 months its had a mirror smashed off and 2 tyres slashed so is now in a state of visual disrepair and is unroadworthy. With the length of time that has elapsed, its unroadwoethiness and visual state of disrepair it fits the criteria now as an "abandoned" car and I'm trying to get the oxygen thieves at the district council to remove it.

 

[Beebo]

We would have been guilty of that when my father in law died. But never got caught.
His wife didn’t have a driving licence, but the car was inherited by her.
It sat on her drive for 6 months, untaxed, uninsured and doing nothing. But we definitely didn’t SORN it.
There really should be some leeway in certain situations.

 

[Drago]

I think as regards SORN and insurance, as opposed to actually driving and insurance, the powers that be traditionally give a lot of leeway in terms of elapsed time before prosecution. In Ed's case some 4 or 5 years had elapsed before they got heavy with him.

The line has to be drawn somewhere, and a couple of years is more than adequate leeway for people to trouble themselves to find out what their legal responsibilities are if they have acquired a vehicle through such an unfortunate route. The rest of us that actually drive and use our vehicles don't get any such countenance.