Penalty charge revenue for Continuous Registration offences

Dear Mr Horner

Thank you for your e-Mail dated 27 December 2008 in which you have
requested data relating to Continuous Registration enforcement action
undertaken by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The information you have requested is being dealt with under the terms
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and you will receive a
response within the statutory 20 working days from the date of receipt.
We will endeavour to respond to your request prior to the 20 working
days.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me quoting
the above reference number in any future communication.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Champion
Local Services Network

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Dear Mr Horner

Thank you for your e-Mail dated 27 December 2008 addressed to DVLA, Swansea, in which you have made a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). I am replying as Head of Customer Services and Compliance.

In answer to the first part of your request:

+AJM-Please supply details of the total revenue raised through the issue of Continuous Registration penalty charges for the years 2007 and 2008."

It has been a legal requirement since January 1998 that the registered keeper of a vehicle must ensure that it is, at all times, either currently licensed or that a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declaration is made.

Under the system of Continuous Registration (CR) legislation and corresponding regulations, the registered keeper will remain responsible for re-licensing or declaration of Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) until he or she has formally notified DVLA of the vehicle+IBk-s transfer, destruction, export or theft.

Each month, DVLA carries out a check of the vehicle register to identify vehicles apparently without a valid licence or SORN declaration in force. Where a breach of the CR legislation is thought to have occurred, Late Licensing Penalty (LLP) letters are issued. Statistical information for either of these offences is recorded under the +IBg-CR offence umbrella+IBk.

LLPs are issued in accordance with Section 7A of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (VERA). The penalties are for the amount of +AKM-80, reduced to +AKM-40 on early settlement. Those who do not pay the LLP are pursued through either County Court or Debt Collection activities.

When dealing with your request we have taken your reference to +IBg-penalty charges+IBk to mean LLPs issued for a breach of the CR legislation. I can confirm that the revenue collected from LLPs issued in the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 amounted to +AKM-28.3 million, whilst the revenue collected from LLPs issued in the period 1 April 2008 to date amounts +AKM-22.2 million.

In answer to the second part of your request:

"Please also supply the total number of Penalty Charges initiated under Continuous Registration for the same periods.+AJQ

The following table details the total number of LLP notices issued:

Year/Period LLPs issued
1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 1,219,462
1 April 2008 to 30 November 2008 724,783

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder.

Most documents supplied by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will have been produced by government officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on the arrangements for re-using Crown copyright on the Office of Public Sector Information website at:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index.htm

If you are unhappy with the way the Agency has handled your request, you may ask for an internal review. You should contact the Local Services Network and Enforcement Directorate Freedom of Information Champion, DVLA, +IBg-A+IBk Block, Longview Road, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 7JL.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Further guidance of DfT complaints procedures are detailed in Annex A.

Yours sincerely

(sent unsigned)

Steve Alexander
Head of Customer Services and Compliance

ANNEX A

DfT Complaints Procedures

You have the right to complain about the way in which your request for information was handled and/or about the decision not to disclose all or part of the information requested. In addition a complaint can be made that DfT has not complied with its FOI publication scheme.

Your complaint will be acknowledged and you will be advised of a target date by which to expect a response. Initially your complaint will be re-considered by the official who dealt with your request for information. If, after careful consideration, that official decides that his/her decision was correct, your complaint will automatically be referred to a senior independent official who will conduct a further review. You will be advised of the outcome of your complaint and if a decision is taken to disclose information originally withheld this will be done as soon as possible.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner+IBk-s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

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