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Did the van have " Mystery Machine" on the side.? If so you can argue it was those pesky kids.
Rickmeister, that comment was supposed to be tongue in cheek. I've already sent the police a photo of the back doors showing no windows. But they asked for this, with the implication being that if it had windows the FPN would be dropped, which makes me think maybe what it says on the V5 isn't necessarily everything.
"Thank you for sending over these details. Unfortunately without rear windows in the back doors the vehicle would still be classed as an LGV, these must be present to be classed otherwise."
is what they said
My unmodified van is “Category N1“: Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
I can drive (legally) at car speed limits, but you wouldn't know that from "N1"
The key is the Body Type (section D5 on the V5), which is Car-Derived Van.
For the purposes of this thread you need to comply either with the CDV or DPV definition. M1/N1 isn't the whole story
OP - I've found that both police and driving examiner didn't know law on specific points around licensing. I did having looked into it for work. At first I was refused a driving test in one incident, and in another was told I was ineligible to sit with learner driver and would be prosecuted. Thankfully the police at side of road and the examiner had the patience to hear me out, read a link to DVLA and call a colleague.
It's worth as you are doing seeing what a court makes of it.
Dpv isn't on the V5 (I have that in writing from DVLA).
Your vehicle just needs to conform, but you may have to go to court (I have that in writing from DVSA).
Your vehicle without rear door windows that light the rear seat does not not conform (my Dispatch has rear door windows and a bulkhead window so does conform).
Most DPVs in this discussion will be N1 (as if they are M1 you are on car speed limits anyway).
Thanks mick_r
As I've said quite a few times now, I can see that the vehicle doesn't quite meet meet the criteria (however much I'd like to think that anything I need to look over my shoulder to see is at the rear of the vehicle).
My question is, how long do need to be worried whenever I see the postman?
What's the longest anyone has waited (or heard about waiting) for a hearing?
Surely there's a timeframe within which they need to respond!?
I have frequented many Ford and VW forums over the years and owned several Dciv Transit Customs.
Apart from your usual freeman of the land and common law fruitcakes , everyone has accepted they are commercial vehicles and therefore lower speed limits apply on single and dual carriageways.
I have bought the heavy duty versions so they are capable of carrying a ton to comply with the taxman requirements to be able to claim back the VAT. BIK is also set at something like £55 a month for a 20% tax payer and £110 for 40 % payer. This is because it is classed as a commercial vehicle, i.e N1, separate load area with a bulkhead as standard etc.
Whenever Dual Cab Dave has been challenged on a forum to show the paperwork prove they got let off, they go quiet and you don't see any further posts......until the question comes up again of course 🙂
Surely there’s a timeframe within which they need to respond!?
I expect Covid excuses trump any standard timeframes 😉
My question is, how long do need to be worried whenever I see the postman?
I absolutely follow your logic, but if I were in your position, there's no point worrying, whatever is going to happen is going to happen. Unless there's something you can do to change it, so the question I'd be asking is "Is there anything I can/should do ?"
Flee the country!?
fwiw I cover around 50,000 miles a year for work on top of other stuff and absolutely couldn't do my job without driving so I'm very motivated to keep these points off my licence!
edit, I know the obvious response to this is "don't speed", which is correct. But my understanding at the time was that I was driving within the speed limit, and since receiving the NIP I've been sticking to the van limits.
The timeframe doesn't include putting it in your hands. Ring the appropriate police and ask what's happening
And yet my Swb T5 with N1 taxation class, no rear seats and no windows in the back still qualifies as a DPV. Why? Because it is under 2040 kg unladen weight and is capable of having drive to all 4 wheels (4 motion)
The whole shitshow really needs sorting out to be fair. Something along the lines of all vehicles up to 5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight have the same limits. 50 on single carriageway roads. 60 on Dual carriageway s and 70 on motorways.
Whenever Dual Cab Dave has been challenged on a forum to show the paperwork prove they got let off, they go quiet and you don’t see any further posts
I got let off a speeding ticket in my crewcab Vivaro, but I'm quite willing to accept it was the plod's mistake (or just being nice because I was so charming) ... and I'm certainly not going looking for paperwork.
The whole shitshow really needs sorting out to be fair. Something along the lines of all vehicles up to 5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight have the same limits.
That's a very good point. There are too many unnecessarily complicated laws that just take up the time of courts, agencies like DVLA and people running businesses. It's wasted effort and all damages the economy and adds to living costs directly or indirectly.
This whole 60 limit for vans is a total farce and needs to disappear. It really is very silly.
There was a thread, maybe 6 or 9 months ago, on this topic, and somebody was saying that the registration class isn’t definitive, it’s the physical attributes of the vehicle. They had asked DVLA to change the registered category to match the vehicle attributes, DVLA had declined and said it wasn’t for them to decide which speed limits apply.
There was, it related to converted vans to camper vans. That particular argumetathon cost me a donation to charity, so I'm stopping well out of this one! 😁
This whole 60 limit for vans is a total farce and needs to disappear. It really is very silly.
For the sake of reduced pollution, it'd be better if it was reduced to 60 for everyone, not increased for vans, but yes, it's a bloody confusing mess that needs clearing up!
for 70 in a 60 I'd be surprised if a speed awareness course wasn't offered. It might be worth giving them a ring to check nothing has been lost in the post and you'vre due at court without knowing it
I looked into the DCIV speed limits thing - extensively - as I own a Transit Custom DCIV.
Technically yes, some DCIVs meet all dual-purpose vehicle criteria and the 'normal' car speed limits rather than the lower van limits, but it's always going to be a PITA proving that. The only thing lacking - same as OP - is the rear window (I've got an unglazed tailgate) and could have a window installed for £300ish, but I can't be arsed with the potential hassle. It's a PITA not being legally able to drive faster than 60mph anywhere north of Perth, but a bigger PITA if I wanted to challenge a speeding ticket.
The topic comes up on the Transit Custom Onwers FB group regularly. Same outcome so far.
It’s a PITA not being legally able to drive faster than 60mph anywhere north of Perth
on the plus side , with the cost of fuel these days at lease you will get better consumption figures 😉