Useful info if stopped

[popupJohn]

Ive been told its handy to carry a piese of card/paper with relevant weights/measurement details of van and car on to show to police if stopped.

Such things as kerbside weight,payload etc.

Has anybody got one they could offer as a suitable list of all the sensible details to list on it?

 

[Lutz]

I can't imagine that the police would be very impressed by a piece of paper that you have written yourself with the details. It would have no documentary value and won't carry any weight (excuse the pun). The only information that the police will accept as authoritative is what's on the respective plate of car and caravan.

 

[RogerL]

The Vin plates on the car and caravan are the main things that the police or highway authorities will use as evidence but the EC Certificate of Conformity (for car and/or caravan) will also be helpful as there may be legitimate variations from the figures on the Vin plate, when towing.

My own car has a "technically permissible maximum laden mass" of 1735kg solo but 1760 when towing. Only the 1735 is shown on th car's Vin plate, the towing variation is shown in additional remarks on the EC Certificate of Conformity.

 

[popupJohn]

Thanks for the above.

I realise that the info. would not be a legal document, just a colated list of facts that could be varified by hunting through details on vin plates etc.

Just seemed a handy idea to me to save police time etc unless they needed real proof etc rather than just a quick scan over the 'rig'

 

[Lutz]

The Vin plates on the car and caravan are the main things that the police or highway authorities will use as evidence but the EC Certificate of Conformity (for car and/or caravan) will also be helpful as there may be legitimate variations from the figures on the Vin plate, when towing.

My own car has a "technically permissible maximum laden mass" of 1735kg solo but 1760 when towing. Only the 1735 is shown on th car's Vin plate, the towing variation is shown in additional remarks on the EC Certificate of Conformity.

I know, of course, about the Certificate of Conformity but it's never accompanied any of the car and/or caravan that I've owned at the point of sale. If I had ever needed one, I would have had to apply for it.

 

[Lutz]

Most of the information on the plates can also be found in the owner's handbook so one could make a copy of the relevant pages if you really want but, as I mentioned before, I doubt whether the police are interested in seeing anything that has no documentary evidence.

 

[Guest]

I suspect that if the Police are 'interested' in you then there will have been a reason to generate their interest. Either you have committed a traffic offence, in which case you will receive the appropriate penalty, or they suspect your outfit is unroadworthy. If the latter then I feel you would be directed to the nearest weighbridge/inspection area where the examination will take place. You will of course have to provide the documentaion for your outfit, car and caravan and I regret that any piece of handwritten paper is not going to be acceptable. Being helpful nowadays will usually lead to a degree of greater suspicion, so my advice to anyone in this situation is, to stay calm and silent. Answer only the questions asked, and ensure, if possible, you are never alone with the 'authorities'.

 

[RogerL]

The Vin plates on the car and caravan are the main things that the police or highway authorities will use as evidence but the EC Certificate of Conformity (for car and/or caravan) will also be helpful as there may be legitimate variations from the figures on the Vin plate, when towing.

My own car has a "technically permissible maximum laden mass" of 1735kg solo but 1760 when towing. Only the 1735 is shown on th car's Vin plate, the towing variation is shown in additional remarks on the EC Certificate of Conformity.

The last three cars I've bought (new) have come with an EC Certificate of Conformity automatically. I never realised that, in most cases, this useful document has to be requested.

My caravan came with a NCC Certificate which is similar to a Certificate of Conformity but probably has no status in the EU.

 

[Val & Frank]

I believe that you can access the EU web site and download any directive in the language of the country you intend to travel through. So if you are aware of the relevant directive then hey presto it's all typed out for you,with all the relevant detail.

I will look for the web site in the morning.

regards

Val & Frank

 

[popupJohn]

OK all points taken and make sense.

( j sneeks away, a newbie, with tail between his legs)

 

[Guest]

Why? You have done nothing wrong. At least you are asking questions rather than relying on 'blind ignorance' so you are to be congratulated.

 

[popupJohn]

Ta, dont worry "i`ll be back" as Arnie once said

 

[Lutz]

I don't think the police anywhere really care much about EU Directives. Directives are what they say they are, they are not law. They only become law when assimilated into each individual country's statutory regulations.

Besides, the directives only specify general procedures and requirements, not specific to any model or make so they would not be much help in individual situations. For example, Directive 92/21/EEC (and others) only define the terms MIRO, MTPLM, etc., and how they are to be measured, not what the actual values are.

 

[joeby]

the police were having a purge on the M4 one Easter bank holiday,they had police on bikes directing the caravans into Leigh Delamare Services us included ,and they had 2 caravan engineers going around the van ,they also checked roof racks ,wing mirrors ,tyres ,hitch movement ,there was a few vans lined up not allowed to leave ,and looking at some of them you could see why,but we found the police quite jolly after all they are only doing there job and keeping the crap off the road

 

[Stephen_5077753]

I would guess that most traffic plod can look at an outfit and judge that its suitable or not and decide if further investigation is needed. Now, how the hell a mondeo 1.8 (maybe 2.0l) petrol got away with pulling a twin axel Hobby to and from Haggerston castle a few weeks ago without attracting the attention of the boys in blue I do not know!!

Steve