Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Motoring chaos as local drivers are flagged by UK MOT scans
Saturday, 20 December 2008
The Government was last night urged to sort out a mess over MOT which means that cars from Northern Ireland could be taken off the road in England — even if they are perfectly legal.
The Belfast Telegraph has learned that the new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system recently introduced in Britain does not work on vehicles with Northern Ireland numberplates — resulting in chaos for local drivers visiting there.
Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson has said he will raise the issue in the House of Commons “so that Northern Ireland drivers can avoid this indignity”.
The anomaly was revealed by a Co Tyrone couple living in the Wirral near Liverpool, and whose cars have both been through the MOT. Christopher Taylor’s Mercedes was tested and passed in England, and his wife Jessica’s VW Golf went through in Northern Ireland.
“The electronic ANPR system, which is installed in various parts of England and in police cars, checks whether cars have gone through the MOT. My car — with an English registration — had no problems, but not so Jessica’s,” said Christopher.
It’s inconceivable that Northern Ireland drivers should be subjected to this type of inconvenience
“With NI registrations not working in the system, she was hauled in by the police, and even though she produced the certificate from Northern Ireland that her car had been successfully tested, they simply wouldn’t accept that. She was instructed to call at the nearest police station within five days and show her certificate, and even then doubts were cast.
“This is going to happen every time Jessica, or any other motorist with NI plates, drives past an ANPR police car and it’s an awful nuisance. She is even thinking of changing her licence plate to a GB one and having an MOT done in England. Worse still, it will happen to any Northern Ireland driver coming to England and driving past an ANPR check, and you can imagine the mayhem that will cause.”
“It’s inconceivable that Northern Ireland drivers should be subjected to this type of inconvenience,” said Mr Donaldson.
“Especially those who are driving strictly within the law. I’ll raise it in the House and do my best to get it sorted.”
A statement issued by the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland yesterday said that the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVLA) had met with its counterparts in Britain “to raise the issue of exchange of MOT information between NI and GB”.
The statement added: “A formal request has been issued to GB authorities, asking for an exchange of information on the MOT status of vehicles.”
- Text Size
Cannuck - people born on the Turks and Caicos Islands can also apply for a UK passport - does that make them British too?
Posted by Jimmy Choo Choo | 23.12.08, 05:22 GMT
Actually Cannuck - Pe Dantic is correct. You are wrong. You hold a UK passport. The UK consists of Britain AND ALSO Northern Ireland. If you were correct your passport would say United Kingdom of Great Britain. It doesn't. By the way just because people say something doesn't make it true. Now move on and don't be silly.
--
"I'm from Belfast. Belfast is in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Fair enough Belfast may not be in Great Britain but it is definitely in the UK. Therefore I'm not Irish at all - I am UKish. OK? Wait. No I am a United Kingdomer. United Kingdomish. Erm....aaaaaaaaaaaaah."
Posted by Mike | 23.12.08, 05:14 GMT
Cannuck - maybe you missed what I said. I will repeat.
Northern Ireland is not part of Britain. Northern Ireland is however part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom consists of Britain AND Northern Ireland. You said: "I had to fight to explain that Northern Ireland was and is still a part of Britain..".
Well you were wrong to do so. Northern Ireland is not in Britain. Will you be grown up enough to admit you're wrong or are you too bitter?
Just for the record - here is photo of UK passport http://www.ltnet-live.co.uk/Gordans%20Travels/2006-11-14/Passport%20Front.jpg It confirms that I am correct and you are incorrect. Good day to you and Merry Xmas.
Posted by Pe Dantic | 23.12.08, 05:04 GMT
Pe Dantic, Ask ANY loyalist Ulsterman what nationality he is and you'll hear him say BRITISH. I hold a BRITISH passport thus I am BRITISH.
Posted by CannuckCol | 22.12.08, 17:00 GMT
CannuckCol I'd like to correct you. Northern Ireland is not part of Britain. Northern Ireland is however part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom consists of Britain AND Northern Ireland. Check any UK passport.
Posted by Pe Dantic | 22.12.08, 03:43 GMT
What about other EU Countries?
Posted by trevorros | 21.12.08, 08:51 GMT
This is totally amazing. How long has NI been in existence and how long has cars from NI been driving around in England? And what's the "GB authorities" phrase mean? - I thought that term had been abolished. I think the cause of this problem is Westminster trying to create a wedge between the mainland and NI in preparation to full Irish unification. Why be so loyal to the mainland when they do this to NI citizens? Beggars belief really.
Posted by John | 21.12.08, 03:35 GMT
It just goes to show that half the world's problems are caused by bureaucrats. Government is the problem, not the answer! Reagan had it right!
Posted by WHCM | 21.12.08, 01:04 GMT
That's ludicrous. There should be *one* system for vehicle licensing and testing covering the whole of the UK.
Posted by Aaron | 21.12.08, 00:57 GMT
my son has northern ireland registration but had his mot in england and is at university there, what exactly does this mean
Posted by liz | 20.12.08, 22:59 GMT
This is NOT the only problem with the difference between the DVLA and the DVLNI. When I moved to Canada, I was informed that the British drivers licence could be exchanged for a Canadian one without having to take a test. However, the DVLNI was NOT seen to be British - NOR was it even seen to be Irish. I had to fight to explain that Northern Ireland was and is still a part of Britain. So maybe when the government are correcting the MOT fiasco they can rectify the licence fiasco while they're at it.
Posted by CannuckCol | 20.12.08, 22:15 GMT
What a farce! The mainland UK checks are not as strenuous as ours yet our vehicles are being pulled in over there! What about southern Irish reg vehicles, that are only checked once every two years, are they being pulled in? Then what about all the foreign reg vehicles, particularly left hand drive lorries that cause a large proportion of road traffic deaths on mainland UK? This needs to get this sorted out!
Posted by T J McClean | 20.12.08, 19:17 GMT