CAZ van or car

[donboon]

Hi everyone. Just wondering if anyone else has suffered this problem.



A recent trip to Gateshead got me two PCNs. One going in and the other going out over the Tyne Bridge.

The first PCN in sixty years of driving.

According to Clean Air Zone (CAZ) authorities the late September 2015 T5.1 California is not a Motor Caravan, nor classed as a diesel car and especially not a category M1 vehicle despite that being clearly printed in the V5C.

After hours of phone calls DVLA confirmed my V5C was correct and noted that CAZ do not have the authority to change a vehicles details; although they are doing it with apparent impunity.

CAZ don’t take orders from DVLA (although they are compelled to use the information they have) and stick with their decision to call my California a commercial van for the purpose of their Clean Air Policies.

Currently Gateshead rely on ANPR who use DVLA records which are being interpreted by CAZ and manipulated to issue PCNs of £120 plus £12.50. Both ways that’s £265.

Gateshead however do not charge cars and motor caravans of any description so I was surprised to get the PCNs and called Gateshead to find out why.

A very helpful gentleman assured me they have dealt with this problem on many occasions so advised me to apply for a Motorhome exemption certificate which lasts twenty year and submit an appeal to both PCNs.

I sent copies of my V5C and photo of number plate plus a detailed description of the hassle I faced with DVLA and CAZ with the appeal.

It’s a lot of hassle which could be replicated throughout the UK simply because CAZ have their rules which apparently include interpreting changes to the class and category of a vehicle.

I’m curious as to how many other innocent people are being fleeced by CAZ and what if anything has been done about it.

 

[Up10]

A recent trip to Gateshead got me two PCNs. One going in and the other going out over the Tyne Bridge.

According to Clean Air Zone (CAZ) authorities the late September 2015 T5.1 California is not a Motor Caravan, nor classed as a diesel car and especially not a category M1 vehicle despite that being clearly printed in the V5C.

I’m curious as to how many other innocent people are being fleeced by CAZ and what if anything has been done about it.

I haven't yet been caught out but thank you for your post alerting this as a potential issue. You have to ask why CAZ only use partial information from DVLA and not all of it. Looks like an inefficient system in the face of it.

 

[donboon]

Not all Clean Air Zones operate the same. Gateshead allow all cars and motorhomes but other areas don’t. I had a long discussion with CAZ who said they would look at the DVLA records. Later that day they replied:

“We appreciate that you have taken the time to contact us in relation to this matter.

After checking the information available on your DVLA record, I can confirm that the charge result is correct.

The Drive in a Clean Air Zone service considers the information available on your vehicle’s DVLA record. Based on data such as the type approval, weight, and seating capacity of your vehicle, the Vehicle Checker has determined that your motorhome/caravan should be considered equivalent to a Van.

If you believe the vehicle details on your DVLA record are incorrect, you will need to contact the DVLA via GOV.UK or by calling 0300 790 6802.

From the information available on your DVLA vehicle record, I can see that your vehicle was first registered in 2015 and does not have a confirmed Euro status on record. The Drive in a Clean Air Zone service, in the absence of a confirmed Euro status, considers the Date of First Registration of your vehicle and the emissions values recorded at registration to determine whether it likely meets the Euro 6 minimum emissions standard for Clean Air Zones.

The information available on your record indicates that your vehicle does not meet the Euro 6 emissions standard, and your vehicle will be chargeable to drive, into, or within, the Tyneside Clean Air Zones.

Please be advised that whether the vehicle is used for commercial or private use, the Clean Air Zone charge will still apply.”

So despite Gateshead being the Authority that decided to implement the Clean Air Zone albeit with an exemption for all cars and motor caravans no matter what their Euro rating , CAZ is blatantly ignoring their concessions and purposely recategorising my vehicle as a commercial van in an attempt to force Gateshead to make the charge.

 

[donboon]

UPDATE:
Both appeals were accepted so the PCNs have been cancelled and my vehicle has been added to the list of locally exempt vehicles for the duration of the Clean Air Zone.
A heap of unwanted and unnecessary hassle but the right outcome eventually.
Anyone out there with a California beware of the CAZ but more importantly stick to your principles and don’t let CAZ dictate the rules.
Now I’ve proven a point I think I’ll ask my M.P. about CAZ rewriting the rules and if there is a way to stop them causing innocent motorists all this hassle.
It might also be a precedent for other authorities to follow but I’m not picking fights with any more until I have to