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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think this is a 'reasonable excuse'?

58 replies

CoffeeInAnIV · 23/10/2020 11:58

I live in Wales and tonight at 6pm the fire breaker lockdown comes into place to replace the local lockdown which effectively means you can't travel out of your home town without a reasonable excuse.

I'm disabled and my husband is the driver. He needs to go to the next town over tomorrow to pick up a second hand car for us since ours has died on us. It's being bought from a family friend, not a dealership, and he will need to get a taxi there in order to drive it back.

My dad says this is not a reasonable excuse and if caught, he will be fined. Is this likely do you think? I thought this would be a reasonable excuse as we have three children and need the car. I thought this would be just as reasonable as travelling to work etc. What do you think?

OP posts:
MootingMirror · 23/10/2020 12:01

I don't think it will count, no. During lockdown before, people were fined for this kind of thing. You'd need to prove: a) you NEED the car and b) you can't get a car from within your own area. That's unlikely to be honest.
I feel for you and if I made the rules then I'd probably allow this but I think it's against the rules if I'm completely honest.

Acerred · 23/10/2020 12:11

OP I'm in Wales too. I think you'll struggle to get a taxi TBH because it says that you can only get a taxi for one of the exceptional reasons for not staying at home and car dealerships have to be closed so I think the authorities would say travelling to collect a car you are buying from somewhere that isn't a dealership is also not allowed.

GravityFalls · 23/10/2020 12:18

I would say that sounds reasonable to me - it’s not for a jaunt, you need a car and I’m assuming this is the only chance you had to do it. I guess it depends on whether you’re prepared to risk the fine or not.

Original poster
CoffeeInAnIV · 23/10/2020 12:31

I thought we may be able to frame it as 'undertaking caring responsibilities'. This is the only chance we have to do it so I assume we're just going to have to risk the fine. We have nobody to help to drive without risking them so it's going to have to be a case of taxi.

OP posts:
Acerred · 23/10/2020 12:35

Are you really going to need the car once the restrictions start? There are so few places we are going to be able to go!

Original poster
CoffeeInAnIV · 23/10/2020 12:38

Yes, unfortunately. I have weekly medical appointments to keep throughout and we'll be going to the local parks for walks which help with my mental and physical health. Also any shopping needs to be put in the boot as we don't live close to any supermarkets so we need to do shopping in bulk. For instance, we get paid next week and need to do a two week shop and get it home and wouldn't be able to walk it.

OP posts:
FabbyChix · 23/10/2020 12:40

Can he not get it today.

Acerred · 23/10/2020 12:46

I think the authorities will expect you to get shopping delivered in those circumstances and to get a taxi to your medical appointments as that is allowed. If they wanted people to be able to go and buy new cars then car dealerships wouldn't be closed.

The guidelines are fairly self explanatory and they are strict but there is a reason for that. I do think you will be risking a fine if you go.

thelittlestrhino · 23/10/2020 12:46

I had to do this on the first day of lockdown in March. Slightly different as I didn't need to get a taxi to pick it up, but it was essential for me to have a car (teacher working in hub and very restricted public transport available).

BarbaraofSeville · 23/10/2020 12:54

I'd say that is perfectly reasonable and low risk, he can wear a mask in the taxi and doesn't have to go in the house where he's getting it up from.

Without the car, you wouldn't be able to get to medical appointments, even if you could get outside locally and get your shopping delivered.

If it was me, I would:

try and get the car today, before lockdown restrictions come in, even if it means finishing work early.

If not, just go and get it tomorrow and if stopped, politely explain why he's out, ie needed by disabled person for hospital appointments.

If you get fined, just accept it, better than having your life disrupted even more than it is anyway, by not being able to get out, get shopping etc.

Lexilooo · 23/10/2020 12:56

I think it is a reasonable excuse. You have already agreed the purchase, you need the vehicle due to disability/medical reasons, you can justify it if challenged. It isn't like going to browse a car dealer.

NikeDeLaSwoosh · 23/10/2020 12:57

You'll be fine with this - you need to make the trip for health reasons (to help with your disability)

BarbaraofSeville · 23/10/2020 12:57

I think the authorities will expect you to get shopping delivered in those circumstances and to get a taxi to your medical appointments as that is allowed

See this is why the guidelines don't make any sense and people don't follow them.

The OP is proposing one 'illegal' taxi journey to get the car that will allow them to do their shopping and get to 2/3 medical appointments. If they don't do that, they will needlessly be taking shopping slots that someone else could use, and take multiple taxi journeys, the latter probably costing more than the fine if her DH gets caught and fined when he goes to collect the car.

Original poster
CoffeeInAnIV · 23/10/2020 13:10

Unfortunately the seller isn't available today as she's an emergency worker and she can only do tomorrow afternoon (we've asked if we could get it before the restrictions come into force). It's tomorrow or wait until after lockdown which could be god knows when as I'm sure there'll be more local restrictions after the fire breaker.

I work from home but we have limited income so £40 round trip on taxis weekly isn't doable. It's difficult enough to get shopping slots online as it is and since I have mobility issues I'd much rather be able to go myself or ask DH to go rather than take shopping slots that are not necessary for others who need them.

I think DH will risk the fine because to us it's necessary. I just wish the rules made sense. My brother can travel a 60 mile round trip to work in an office for a waste disposal company five days a week as he's an essential worker but DH is technically unable to travel 6 miles to pick up a car from a driveway.

OP posts:
BlankTimes · 23/10/2020 13:15

Can't the family member car-owner drive it to the "border" between you where the restrictions start and end and your husband pick it up there?

So neither of you will be going out of the area you must stay in?

Stripyhoglets1 · 23/10/2020 13:16

I think that is a reasonable excuse and I'd do it in your situation

Nacreous · 23/10/2020 13:19

I wondered about Blank Times suggestion just to avoid any hassle, but I agree I think that purchasing a car you need in order to attend medical appointments is a reasonable excuse.

Acerred · 23/10/2020 13:20

@BlankTimes

Can't the family member car-owner drive it to the "border" between you where the restrictions start and end and your husband pick it up there?

So neither of you will be going out of the area you must stay in?

That's a good idea. I hope you manage to get it OP.
WitchQueenofDarkness · 23/10/2020 13:22

I'd do it too.

I'm going to be using the caring exemption to cross into Wales to stay with my father next week for a few days as he has medical appointments that he won't otherwise be able to attend. Using a taxi is not an option as after one of the procedures he is forbidden to use public transport (including taxis).

He also needs someone to stay with him for 24 hours and my mother has too many health problems of her own to reasonably ask her to take the responsibility for him.

BreconBeelzeBubbered · 23/10/2020 13:24

I think you need the car to get around and comply with the spirit of the regulations, so YANBU. How you'll fare legally I couldn't say, but the journey your DH plans to take isn't pisstaking or for trivial reasons. On balance, it's better for everyone if you have a car than if you don't.

WitchQueenofDarkness · 23/10/2020 13:24

@BlankTimes - the new lockdown has replaced the regional ones so boundaries other than the one between Wales and England are no longer relevant.

Goodness only knows what ridiculous ideas he has in mind for end of lockdown. He hasn't said yet.

thedaytodayyesterday · 23/10/2020 13:24

As pp has said, getting multiple taxi journeys to medical appointments and needing to use up delivery slots seems to be make no sense when this can be avoided simply by being allowed to go and get the car in the first place. If it was me I would be going, the rules are all well and good but sometimes a bit of common sense has to prevail. The chances of being fined are very slim. Surely collecting transport for disabled person is essential?

Abraid2 · 23/10/2020 13:25

It sounds reasonable.

Pinkypie86 · 23/10/2020 13:25

You certainly have a reason to pick up a second hand car - personally, I'd go and not think anything of it. Make you stay 2metres apart, wear masks and sanitise - it's that simple.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 23/10/2020 13:26

I’d have thought that would be considered a reasonable excuse.
One taxi journey to next town over to collect car -v- 4 taxi journeys for hospital appointments plus two deliveries or taxi journeys for shopping. It also seems sensible!

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