MOT Farce
It was recently revealed on the BBC that MOT certificates are sometimes dependent on the make and model of the car together with the postcode in which the car is MOT’d. For example Ford who have a plant at Dagenham have a very good MOT pass rate in that area but are less successful further away from the factory. Some French cars are notoriously poor at passing MOTs but it would appear that Japanese cars are very successful.
The only problem with this is MOTs are only valid for one day and when a car can be failed on MOT because a windscreen wiper may provide a smear on the screen or a back licence plate bulb is out is utterly scandalous.
Ray Wilkins on Drink Driving Charge
News recently released on the BBC website indicated that Ray Wilkins the former Chelsea Assistant Manager is due to appear in Court at Reigate following his arrest for drink driving.
The former England player and notably the first person to be sent off during World Cup Finals as an England player looks like he is about to be sent off the road for this misdemeanour.
Not to worry Sky TV will probably have a driver to be able to take him to the studio.
Everton Footballer Steven Pienaar Bailed after Missing Court
The Everton footballer, Steven Pienaar, recently had a warrant issued for him for not attending Court for a speeding matter.
This type of case clearly highlights the problems with the system.
This man will have been sent a letter to his last known address and the Courts in their infinite wisdom have no knowledge whether or not the letter has ever been received or acted upon and simply proceed to issue arrest warrants for people.
We recently had a case exactly similar to this at Newport Magistrates’ Court where a man received no notification of a Court hearing date and was arrested on the warrant and held in custody for an offence he had no knowledge that had ever been committed.
It is about time the Courts realised that if they want people to attend Court they must do something to ensure that people are told about going to Court like for example sending letters on recorded delivery and then there will be a confirmation signature that people are aware of the Court hearing.
Steven Pienaar is a classic example of where a man’s reputation and/or livelihood can be seriously damaged.
Huddersfield Speed Charge Widower Spared Jail
Christopher Bingley recently appeared before Bradford Crown Court for deliberately nominating his dead wife as the driver of a vehicle on four separate occasions and was spared immediate imprisonment when he appeared before Bradford Crown Court.
He has tried to give the impression that he simply made a mistake following the death of his wife.
This was not a mistake, it was a deliberate, premeditated attempt to avoid points on his licence and this is exactly the type of situation that the authorities should look into and prosecute.
This man has not made a mistake about who was driving his car on four separate occasions. He would have been told when the offence was and no doubt he can remember his wife died. This man deserved immediate imprisonment not for perverting the course of justice but for showing complete lack of respect to his deceased wife.