Roads Minister Sammy Wilson caught without tax or MoT
Monday, 20 October 2008
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Environment Minister Sammy Wilson last night branded the law which saw him fined for riding his motorbike without tax or MoT as “absurd”.
The Minister, who has responsibility for road safety in Northern Ireland, was caught by a camera detection unit on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast — a short distance from the Stormont Parliament Buildings.
As revealed by the Belfast Telegraph’s sister paper, the Sunday Life, the East Antrim MP was taking his bike to a garage to have it serviced for an MoT test four days later.
Calling for a review of the law, the bike-mad politician — he has five motorcycles — said: “I suspect there are a lot of people who take their cars which are neither taxed or MoT’d to go and get them checked before an MoT so they don't fail.
“Probably they don't know they are breaking the law, I certainly did not know I was breaking the law.”
He added: “I still think the interpretation of the law, in the eyes of most people, would seem to be absurd.”
Mr Wilson also said he is annoyed that a member of his department leaked details of how he had been caught riding his motorbike without tax or MoT.
Speaking to the Sunday Life he said he believes details of his fine were leaked by one of his own officials, adding: “It’s very annoying actually when someone from my department leaks this information to the media.
“Only the department would have known about this. If they leak something like this what’s to stop them leaking other information of a more sensitive nature.”
After receiving the £40 fine and ordered to pay back-tax for the vehicle, Mr Wilson failed in a bid to have the fixed penalty dismissed.
Said the Roads Minister: “I remember passing the camera at the time and never thought anything about it to tell you the truth.
“I have another bike which has not been on the road for five years, but I’m scared stiff to drive it in case I get stopped again for driving without an MoT.
“The insurance covered me and there would have been more of an issue if I had been driving it, if it had failed the MoT.
“I wrote to the DVA about this. If I had been in Portrush or Enniskillen I could understand them asking me what I was doing there.
“But I gave them all the details about what I was doing driving to Belfast.”
He added: “I would be interested to know if they have exercised discretion in other examples because I’m sure I’m not the first person to be caught doing this.
“I suspect because I am the Roads Minister they abided by the letter of the law.
“This was not an oversight by me. I genuinely believed that it was perfectly legitimate for me to drive the bike to get it fixed for MoT.”
I’m sure I’m not the first person to be caught doing this. I suspect because I am the Roads Minister they abided by the letter of the law
Mr Wilson also believes current legislation on driving vehicles before they have been put through an MoT test should be reviewed. “I’m very annoyed with the stupidity of the rules. You can drive a vehicle if it has failed the MoT but you can’t drive it to the garage before it goes through the test.
“The law states that I should have taken the bike on a trailer. I suspect there are thousands of bikers who would quite legitimately get their bikes on the road before they go for MoT,” he added.
The Department of Environment (DoE) released a statement: “A motorcycle registered to the Minister was detected by a Driver Vehicle Agency camera detection unit when it was on the road while unlicensed.
“The case was dealt with using standard procedures applied to all such detections and the appropriate penalty paid. The vehicle is now licensed.”
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Comments
46 Comments
Good on ye Sammy. There are to many stupid laws and crap anyway to contend with. The motorist and truckers are always a soft target for the athoritys to get a few more quid for the ever hungry government machine...
How about this for a stupid law !!!!
I oan my oan car and the tax expires,, but I have trade plates so I can drive on... NOT SO......
A law states that this can not be done as the car is not in my temp possession when it has been taxed in my name or from my address..
No wonder so many people break the law, it has been an ass for a long time and is getting worse every day...... Jim Kinghan..
Posted by jim kinghan | 19.01.09, 20:32 GMT
I totally agree with this MP. If someone has a second or third car (orbike) that is off the road for winter, and then decides to arrange for pre-MoT work to be done in spring will be fined. There should be a way of waivering a fine if the driver can prove he is carrying out such work on their vehicle legitimately.
Its ludicrous to suggest they should trailer the car somewhere?
Posted by Andy H | 24.11.08, 16:15 GMT
I understood it was okay to take a car to a garage to have work carried out for an mot ,without tax or mot, as long as the as there was a pre arranged appointment with the garage.
I have checked the highway code (2004 edition)and it supports this position.
Is the law different in NI. from the rest of the UK.???
Posted by Jim | 24.10.08, 21:35 GMT
The 2008 edition of the Northern Ireland Highway Code clearly states
"... you may drive to a pre-arranged test appointment or to a garage for repairs required for the test."
See page 120 of the Official Highway Code for Northern Ireland, downloadable from the roadsafetyni.gov.uk
Does this mean that the latest issue of the Highway code is not a true reflection of the law?
Posted by Andy | 20.10.08, 22:57 GMT
Well done to the whistle blower. it would be interesting to see if mr. Wilson had his vehicle signed off the road as it should be if the tax ran out.
Posted by coogs | 20.10.08, 21:08 GMT
Spotted without pants during a trip to France. Caught without tax, come on! That was a bit lax.
Happened to my mate, he was too late. He got upset when I said - you deserve what you get!
He couldn't pay the fine so now he just danders. He seems depressed - perhaps he should go to Flanders?
Posted by Busta rhymes | 20.10.08, 20:42 GMT
You would think someone in Mr.Wilson's position in the public eye would and rightfully should be toeing the line regarding using an unlicenced vehicle on public roads. Why, as he commented were they targeting him, perhaps he needs to look in the mirror and realize he certainly does not deserve any breaks.
Why did he not get his MOT/Tax & licence renewal before they ran out like everyone else if they follow the law. Perhaps next time he will abide by the law.
Posted by Alan R. | 20.10.08, 20:24 GMT
Wilson caught without tax and MoT? Better than being caught with your pants down isn't it? Oh...I forgot. Nevermind.
Posted by Whoopsa Daisy | 20.10.08, 20:03 GMT
typical of the type of person we have running this country and passing legislation that they don,t know the simplest laws of the land . good on the whistle blower for exposing another clown at stormont the whole lot of them should be made to pay back every penny they have got from us and come and join us in the real world where expenses are paid by ourselves from our own pockets!!!!!!
Posted by alan | 20.10.08, 19:50 GMT
Obviously Sammy now has the time to get his motorbikes. Perhaps he has a problem with remembering dates....let me see...I'll sort out PPS14 by april 2008 oh and I must get round to MOT'ing the bike as well.
Disenfranchised Unionist Voter.
Posted by Peter | 20.10.08, 19:49 GMT
Loved the second photo of Sammy on his bike. Hands in the air and all! Funny. But seriously I still can't forget Iris Robinson's comments about gays. If all of this wasn't so pathetic it would be hilarious.
What do people around the world reading stories like this make of us? I cringe just thinking about it. Northern Ireland is a laughing stock. I hope voters are proud that these people are representing us. Come on now. We can do better than this!How embarassing.
Note to people from other countries: these people aren't a true representation of Northern Ireland folk!
Posted by Wammy Silson's cat | 20.10.08, 18:45 GMT
1984 is here.
big brother is watching your every move
Posted by rudya | 20.10.08, 18:36 GMT
Well said M.Spence. We should all take a look his/her comment. I rarely comment in these forums because they usually deteriorate into a sectarian slanging match. It is a breath of fresh air to read a comment like M.Spence's. He/she is 100% correct. These politicians are having a laugh at us while we continue to vote along sectarian lines. Don't people realise that what they do in public is just an act to get votes? Behind closed doors they all get along. They cannot believe they are getting paid for this and getting away with it. Even when Stormont is suspended they still got their huge salaries. While poor Joe Bloggs and Jimmy Bloggs bicker about flags and other nonsense. Wake up sheeple - stop voting for this bunch. We need real accountable politicians who serve the people's interests not their own.
Posted by Beth | 20.10.08, 18:31 GMT
Mu said: "if this was anyone else it would never been heard off." Well done for pointing out the obvious. That is exactly why we should be hearing about this. This man is a senior government minister. He broke the law, got caught and calls the law absurd. What on earth. You don't think BT should report this? Catch a grip! This man is embarassing as are many of our other elected reps. I hope people wake up and vote them out. Im sick and tired of them sponging off us while having a laugh in their little club. Chuck them all out.
Posted by Disgusted | 20.10.08, 18:22 GMT
If you break the law Sammy you have to pay up.
It is unfair that the B T had to make such a big deal off it, anyone else it would never been heard off.
Posted by mu | 20.10.08, 17:51 GMT
I'm pretty sure the law states that you can drive a vehicle without MOT or tax to and from the vehicle testing garage.
But in NI, of course, the vehicle testing garage, and the garage to fix the vehicle to pass the MOT are two different places.
Posted by Ken | 20.10.08, 17:46 GMT
Surely the motorcycling fiend would know that you ride a motorcycle, not drive it.
Still, he paid his fine. Has anyone checked up on Martin's or Gerry's tv licenses?
Posted by Ken | 20.10.08, 17:44 GMT
alan u say that there sre alot of other ministers in the goverment that have done far worse, yea but at the time they weren't ministers... if so name and shame
Posted by Ciaran | 20.10.08, 17:26 GMT
Jamie,
Sammy is no stranger to casting stones in relation to the behavious of others.
He is an elected representative and as such has a responsibility to set an example. No one is saying it's the end of the world, but if a Minister can't understand basic legislation, is he fit to be in post?
A lot of people don't buy the argument that he didn't realise he was doing wrong, and anyway, we all know that ignorance is no defence in such matters.
Posted by AM | 20.10.08, 17:05 GMT
"Look ! What's the 'problem' ? ... ... After all we are all human"
The get out of jail free card carried by and used on behalf of morons. Fluffy thinking like that does not apply to a deliberate act by a high ranking public official. It's not like he made a mistake.
"The Minister, who has responsibility for road safety in Northern Ireland" <- This is the line which means Sammy is either STUPID or IGNORANT. He admits to being ignorant, but then bearing in mind his job how can he use that excuse.
Wise up Jamie.
Posted by Matt | 20.10.08, 16:40 GMT
46 Comments