Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 9 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. It was answered by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 September 2008 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Question
(3) how many convictions the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has obtained for failing to pay a late licence penalty notice in each year since 1997;
Answer

The Agency began issuing late licensing penalty letter (LLP) with the introduction of Continuous Registration (CR) in 2004. The volumes of LLPs issued each financial year since the commencement of CR are as follows:

Number
2004-05 1,183,544
2005-06 1,341,598
2006-07 1,272,384
2007-08 1,219,462

Over this period the volumes of penalty notices paid within 28 days are:

Number
2004-05 253,712
2005-06 326,036
2006-07 308,897
2007-08 352,615

The volumes of penalty notices paid after 28 days are:

Number
2004-05 61,699
2005-06 92,626
2006-07 84,027
2007-08 107,714

The number of county court judgements (CCJ's) issued since CR are:

Number
2004-05 74,872
2005-06 114,713
2006-07 84,545
2007-08 5,626

Many offenders do not pay first time on receipt of the LLP or the reminder letter. Initially, the Agency used the Civil Court procedure to deal with non payment but this process gave poor results and costs were high.The Agency had to have an effective and efficient mechanism for pursuing the offenders who did not pay their LLP's. Therefore, in June 2006 to August 2007, the Agency carried out a trial using debt collection agents to pursue the payment. The use of debt collectors was found to be far more efficient and effective and in February 2008, the Agency commenced external debt collection activity by passing CR cases for the period of June 2007 to its three appointed debt collection agencies.The Agency does not hold statistics to readily identify the number of appeals received in cases for which an LLP has been issued. These details could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the number of cases closed due to dispute and/or mitigating circumstances is:

Number
2004-05 313,819
2005-06 397,543
2006-07 209,286
2007-08 134,746

These figures do not include other areas of closure e.g. the Agency was unable to trace the registered keeper.During the above periods, in addition to CR, the Agency carried out other pro-active enforcement activities to tackle evaders. These included on road enforcement, wheelclamping and the use of Automated Number Plate Reader Systems (ANPR). The Agency also worked closely with other enforcement bodies such as the Police and VOSA.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
479 c2243-5W; 210699
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Licensing Motor vehicles
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk