Q ‘Cops told me I wasn’t really insured’
‘Police have the power to seize your motorcycle’
I was out the other day and got pulled by the police. They said records showed that my bike was not insured. I explained that I was insured and used my mobile to show the insurance email I had with the certificate. They were having none of it and said that their records showed the bike as uninsured and told me it could not be moved. It transpired that my insurer had forgotten to arrange cover even though I paid and they’d issued a policy. Are the police entitled to stop you riding for reasons you believe to be false and if you can produce documentation like I did? Colin Howell, email
ADespite the documentation your bike was not in fact insured, so the police were correct although this was clearly not your fault. The police can stop a vehicle for any reason. If they ask you to stop, you should always pull over when it is safe to do so. You are breaking the law if you don’t. They can ask to see your driving licence, insurance certificate and MoT certificate. If you don’t have these documents with you, you have seven days to take them to a police station. You are breaking the law if you don’t show the documents within seven days. They can also give you an onthe-spot fixed penalty notice for many minor offences and make you take a breath test in certain circumstances. You can have your vehicle seized if you are stopped on suspicion of driving without insurance and for some other offences.
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