Written question asked by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Monday, 26 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 April 2001. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Monday, 9 April 2001 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What plans he has to review the penalties for failing to obtain a valid MoT certificate.

Answer: Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the penalties for failing to obtain a valid MoT certificate. [156055] Mr. Charles Clarke: The maximum penalty for the offence of driving a motor vehicle without a valid Ministry of Transport (MoT) certificate under section 47 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is a fine of up to £2,500 in the case of a vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers and £1,000 for any other motor vehicle. The maximum penalty for the related, but more serious offence, of forgery of an MoT certificate, under section 173 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, is two years imprisonment. We are conducting a review of Road Traffic Penalties and have now received responses to our consultation paper published last December. In relation to the fraud offence the consultation paper proposes that the existing anomaly whereby imprisonment is not available where the offence is tried in the magistrates court is removed so that a sentence of imprisonment of up to six months is available for summary disposal of these cases. We made no express proposals in respect of the driving without a valid MoT certificate offence but the review continues and we will consider any representations received.

Secondary information