Confusion reigns

At last you have taken up the mantle and questioned the DVLA regarding its conflicting and confusing regulations regarding the features required (particularly the external ones) to reclassify your van conversion as a Motor Caravan on a V5.

MMM published my letter (December 2019), where I explained that I was due to appear in court to answer a speeding charge of travelling at 68mph on a dual carriageway in May 2019.

I met the CPS at a pre-trial hearing, as I was pleading guilty, but with mitigating circumstances. These were mostly the points MMM raised in its excellent April article, and also due to the ‘inconsistencies’ the DVLA admitted in a letter to me, regarding the advice given on the gov.uk website regarding the published guidelines for “Converting a vehicle to a motor caravan”.

I had done my homework and was fully armed with the relevant documentation, which I presented to the CPS officers at the pre-trial meeting.

Two days before my court appearance was due, the CPS informed me that it was dropping the charges.

It begs the question, have any MMM readers actually been prosecuted for exceeding 60mph on a dual carriageway while driving a van with windows? Or maybe the CPS doesn’t wish to test a prosecution in the courts.

Let’s hope common sense will prevail and force the

DVLA, the DfT and the police to get their act together and clarify matters once and for all!