DRIVERS have been warned they could be slapped with a £5,000 fine – and even jail time – just for having a dirty car.
While unknown to most drivers, there is some wording in the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986 act which could potentially land them in trouble.
Having a car so filthy that it obstructs your view could see drivers facing a hefty punishment.
Dominic Smith, the director at Patterson Law, explains what motorists need to do to swerve trouble.
He said: “It is not automatically an offence simply to have a dirty vehicle.
“If the vehicle is so dirty that it means you cannot read the registration plate, or that you can no longer see the lights or indicators, then that could be an offence of driving with a vehicle with a defect, which usually carries a fine, unless the defect is such that it causes a danger to other road users in which case it would carry three points.
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“What you do need to be careful of is if the windscreen or windows are dirty.
“There is an offence of driving a vehicle whilst not in proper control or without a full view of the traffic ahead, which carries three points and a £100 fixed penalty. It’s the same offence that could be charged if you were eating or smoking whilst driving, or driving in flip-flops.
“There is no automatic definition as to what ‘not having full view’ means, it will be dependent on its own facts. It doesn’t just apply to dirty windscreens, but also frosted windows, iced windscreens and even placing a satnav holder in the wrong place.”
It is not just the outside of the car that could attract issues.
A driver having mess indoors could also lead to trouble and even potentially jail time, according to Select Car Leasing’s Managing Director Graham Conway.
He said: “Many of us can be guilty of leaving rubbish on the dashboard – whether it may be empty bottles, coffee cups or even newspapers – if your vehicle becomes too messy you could land a fine of up to £5,000. You could even serve prison time for your clutter.
“Any rubbish lying around on the floor or on the dash can move around as the vehicle is travelling, and if anything manages to roll its way into the pedal area, it could lead to an accident if it becomes stuck underneath the brake or distracts the driver.
“If a crash results in serious injury or even death, this could earn you a lengthy ban and see you risk prosecution.
“Whilst there is no specific rule in place that prohibits people from having rubbish lying around their vehicle, being careless can still lead to serious consequences.”
The Highway Code outlines that “windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision.”
Messy cars is just one surprise infringement that could leave drivers facing punishment.
If you are spotted chomping down on a snack behind the wheel whilst driving, you could face a £200 fine and 6 points for driving without due care and attention.
It is instead advisable to pull over and get something to eat instead of risking punishment for food.
Drivers should also be careful about avoiding their cars entirely after they have had an alcoholic drink.
Sleeping in your car – even if you had no intention of driving it – while over the limit could lead to a whopping £2,500 fine.
