So, here at mcompute, we have a new regular feature which because most people will quite frankly not give a toss. I introduce to you Sharn's Unwanted Opinion:
This time my subject is stupid transport laws... Bear with me and you'll see what I mean:
The man who can't use a wheelchair
Ok, not technically a wheelchair but the amazing tank chair. A man has been told by the DVLA that his £15,000 mobility scooter can't be classed as a mobility scooter because (at 170cm wide and 220Kg) it's 22cm too wide and 100kg too heavy. The DVLA's solution? The bloke needs to get a Class H (or tracked vehicle) license, which means he can use it on the road.
What's wrong with this? Well for a start have you ever seen the interior of a tank?
There's a fair more controls than there are on Tank chair (which has a single lever for speed and steering)
Unless I'm mistaken, this ruling means he also has to pay Vehicle Exise Duty (or car tax) for a Tank, which is a HELL of a lot of money, getting it registered (with registration plates and a logbook). There's also the adjustments that he'll need to make to increase the top speed and range to that of a motor vehicle. Alternatively he can PUSH the chair across roads and pavements and use it on private land... Remember this bloke's disabled which is the whole reason for the chair in the first place.
What a load of bollocks.
Fined for riding a Segway on the pavement
This poor bloke bought a £5,000 Segway and in February last year was charged with riding on the pavement.
Hang on a minute... The Segway website says the biggest machine is 83.82cm wide and 54.4Kg, which is a far cry from the mobility scooter argument above, so what's their reason?
Mr Coates "wilfully rode a motor vehicle, namely a Segway, upon a footpath or causeway by the side of the road, made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot passengers". And to bring him to prosecution the court charged under the Highways act 1865 (No, that is not a typo).
Yet the Highway Code tells us that mobility scooters are allowed on the pavement, so what grounds do they have to charge the bloke, and fine him £75, order him to pay £250 in court costs and a £15 victim surcharge (which unless I've read the article wrong, there was no victim involved)
What a joke.
This time my subject is stupid transport laws... Bear with me and you'll see what I mean:
The man who can't use a wheelchair
Ok, not technically a wheelchair but the amazing tank chair. A man has been told by the DVLA that his £15,000 mobility scooter can't be classed as a mobility scooter because (at 170cm wide and 220Kg) it's 22cm too wide and 100kg too heavy. The DVLA's solution? The bloke needs to get a Class H (or tracked vehicle) license, which means he can use it on the road.
What's wrong with this? Well for a start have you ever seen the interior of a tank?
There's a fair more controls than there are on Tank chair (which has a single lever for speed and steering)
Unless I'm mistaken, this ruling means he also has to pay Vehicle Exise Duty (or car tax) for a Tank, which is a HELL of a lot of money, getting it registered (with registration plates and a logbook). There's also the adjustments that he'll need to make to increase the top speed and range to that of a motor vehicle. Alternatively he can PUSH the chair across roads and pavements and use it on private land... Remember this bloke's disabled which is the whole reason for the chair in the first place.
What a load of bollocks.
Fined for riding a Segway on the pavement
This poor bloke bought a £5,000 Segway and in February last year was charged with riding on the pavement.
Hang on a minute... The Segway website says the biggest machine is 83.82cm wide and 54.4Kg, which is a far cry from the mobility scooter argument above, so what's their reason?
Mr Coates "wilfully rode a motor vehicle, namely a Segway, upon a footpath or causeway by the side of the road, made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot passengers". And to bring him to prosecution the court charged under the Highways act 1865 (No, that is not a typo).
Yet the Highway Code tells us that mobility scooters are allowed on the pavement, so what grounds do they have to charge the bloke, and fine him £75, order him to pay £250 in court costs and a £15 victim surcharge (which unless I've read the article wrong, there was no victim involved)
What a joke.
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As you do...
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