Failing to display tax disk - please help!!!!!

[zookeeper]

I have received a fixed penalty notice for £60!!! because my tax disc wasn't displayed proerly - it must have fallen off the damp windscreen in the night (honest!)

I'm hopping mad because it was lying face up flat on the dashboard so the traffic wardn would have seen it clearly.

Does anyone know if it's worth going to court (it's either that or pay £60) to tell them this or is it one of those strict liability offences?

what a pain! I don't know about tax discs, sorry, but I did get a fixed penalty notice a couple of years ago for parking in a resident space without a permit - I wrote to the address on the ticket (despite the fact it says you can't do that, you have to go to court etc) and they let me off as I had a good reason. So I would give that a go straight away - good luck.

I'd challenge it - they give tickets and expect a lot of them to be challenged. Write politely, but firmly.

thanks - but it doesn't give me an option to write - it's pay or court!!?

I would write and say you wish to challenge it - say it was clearly visible - albeit it had fallen off the screen and onto the dashboard. I would probably include a cheque for the right amount now (and hope they choose not to cash it) but only if you end up paying more if you don't pay up within a given time limit.

there will be an address on the penalty notice and / or a number to call....appeal in writing with a photocopy of the disc....you may not win..but it will delay paying the fine !

thanks all - there is an address so I've just written a letter but they must get so mnny it'll probaly hit the bin!
I can't bring mtself to write the cheque - £60!

tHEY WIL BE ABLE TO CHECK THE SYSTEM TO KNOW THAT YOUR CAR IS IN FACT TAXED (oops sorry!) and that you aren't just saying that it slipped off/down to hide having no tax - I should think that should make them see reason!!

PAY THE 360

Youll get ocsts otherwise

£60

same thing happened to me, write to them ASAP enclosing a photocopy of the tax disk, it'll have the date it was bought on it to prove you have one. I did this and got an aknowledgement of my letter saying I didn't need to pay the £60 fine.

I think you've got 3 weeks to write and hear back from them before you need to pay!

good luck!