We all panic when a mobile speed camera van appears as if out of thin air when you turn a corner, even if you know you’re under the speed limit you still feel the need to check! Some people go one step further and actually enter the vans registration details into the DVLA’s website to see if it’s up to date with it’s tax and MOT.
Bizarrely, for a vehicle whose sole purpose is to ensure motorists don’t break the law, police mobile speed camera vans don’t actually have to follow certain laws. For most of us the law states that we have to take our vehicles for a yearly MOT test once it reaches three years old. This is to make sure that the vehicle meets the minimum safety requirements for driving on UK roads.
Driving without a valid MOT certificate means a fine of up to £1,000 and the risk of your car being impounded, it could also invalidate your insurance which would leave you with a hefty bill if your car was involved in an accident not to mention that it’s illegal to drive without valid insurance!
There are a number of vehicles that are exempt from this rule, such as, police vehicles, motor tractors, London hackney carriages and track-laying vehicles. Apparently police vehicles are exempt because they undergo regular maintenance at the police garages, however, if you’ve read our other articles you’ll know that they aren’t even always cleaned never mind maintained!
