Large Space prop legal issues.

Stunts and physical effects not involving computer generation

Moderators: Admin, Moderator Team

Post Reply
User avatar
TXFilms
Member
Member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 2:38 pm

Large Space prop legal issues.

Post by TXFilms »

I can get a barely or non working van
here for 75 bucks. I want to detail the
inside (pull out the seats, dashboard
and any components that make it look like
a van, and refit it with some props and
stuff I have from working at radioshack
(disco fuses LED's and stuff.)
Is there any way I can get out of having
to have it licenced and have insurance on
a vehicle that isnt going to be on the road?
After the filming I would probably have it
towed to the junkyard. But there would be
a long time that it'd be just in the driveway,
with green material wrapped around the windows.

There has to be a way to keep the police from
trying to get money from me for this (or even
worse, towing it at my expence to the nearest
junkyard whilst i'm left paying the bill and
not finishing my shooting.)

Help, someone?
El Brenty
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2030
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 8:37 pm
Location: Esher, Surrey, Land Of Hope And Glory
Contact:

Post by El Brenty »

Okay, This one's over to Raptor because you said Bucks, and that's more of a US term, so I'm assuming you're in the US of A!

If you were doing this in England, this would be your position:

You can do whatever you want to whatever vehicle you want, so long as you don't use it on a public road! You can drive it at 300mph (Yeah right!) so long as you're doing it on a private road! Your driveway is considered as private in England also! So long as the "modified" vehicle doesn't pose a particular health risk, you have nothing to worry about! You also do not require insurance if the vehicle is not used on a public road. There is also no need to have an up to date MOT (Ministry Of Transport) test if you're not taking it onto a public road!

One thing to look out for: There is a stupid law that came into being a while ago, which was designed to get at road-tax (road fund license) dodgers! There is a SORN statement (Statutory Off Road Notification) that you have to fill in and send to your nearest DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority) office. You can get a form for this at the post-office. The form just confirms that you have a vehicle and you're not using it on a public road. This is really stupid, and if you don't return the form quick enough, you can get a £1000 fine, especially if you are caught using the vehicle on a public road (Like if the police stop you), which you would get anyway, so I can't see the purpose for this burocracy wasting tax-payer's money!

When you finally scrap the vehicle, most junk-yards will want to charge about £30 for the honour. They usually charge this whether they collect or you take the vehicle there. You do not need insurance if the junk-yard is collecting: But remember, the moment you have it on a public road, you're breaking the law if you don't have a MOT certificate, and insurance, and road-tax!

If you decide you want to keep the van, you have to follow this procedure in roughly this order:

1. Insure the vehicle
2. If you need the services of a garage, you can drive the vehicle to them, but you must have first booked an appointment with them (In other words, you can't drive around and then pretend you're taking it to a garage if you suddenly get stopped by police!). If the vehicle is unsafe, you should arrange for towing to the garage.
3. Once insured (can be agreed over the phone), take the vehicle into an MOT test garage. Some garages offer while you wait, but again, the vehicle should be booked in.
4. If the garage fails the vehicle, and there's works to be done to get it to pass, you're allowed to drive it back home (or to a repair garage), and again back to the MOT station.
5. You are also allowed to transfer the vehicle between garages during the reparis procedure. Booking in again applies.
6. Once you have a valid MOT certificate, you are still not allowed to drive the vehicle on a public road yet. You have to go to your local post office, fill out a form (including your insurance schedule, vehicle registration certificate, and MOT certificate), and then and only then can you legally drive on a public road, and that's only if you have a full driver's license to cover the type of vehicle your driving (Or a provisional license if a full license holder is with you!)

PHEW!
Moderating behind the bushes!
rjfox56
Member
Member
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 8:58 pm

Post by rjfox56 »

Yea, in the US it is legal to leave it in your driveway without insurance. Only if you will be driving it will you need it.
Epsilon
Forum Master
Forum Master
Posts: 3897
Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2003 4:13 am
Location: Orange County, California
Contact:

Post by Epsilon »

You don't even need a licence plate on it if it's going to sit on your property! Only, if you are going to drive it on a public road, you need insurance for it. A car sitting on your driveway is the same as a skateboard sitting beside it.

CamClub pretty much summed it up!
Raptor
Forum Veteran
Forum Veteran
Posts: 1027
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:47 am
Location: Altoona, PA, USA

Post by Raptor »

It depends on the state and in fact the local municipality. For instance.. In Pennsylvania if you have tags ( License plate) on the vehicle it must carry at least minimum liability. You do not need to have tags and insurance however if you are not driving the car. You must however transfer the title of ownership to your name ( about $36.00 in PA ). Now that is the state law as far as vehicles go. Where we run into municipal laws is concerning what you can do with the vehicle that does not have current tags. In Altoona, PA, where I live, it is illefal to have a vcehicle that is not registered or inspected parked on the street at all, and is illegal to have it parked outside a garage more than 30 days after teh tags or inspection have expired unless it is parked at a business licensed as a repair garage, at an autoobile dealership, OR ( here's the good one ) completely covered in a form fitting car cover. ( The last was to appease some classic car owners who will cover the vehicle and leave it under a carport over winter )
What I would do is call the local PD non emergency number. Tell them you found a great deal on this van, but it needs some work and may be in your driveway for several months till it is restored and running, is there any local ordinance that would prohibit you from having the vehicle sit there until it is finished and then you will register and insure it when you put it on the road. Then when you're done... just tow it to the scrap yard and tell them it just didn't wanna work :)
The UNDERGROUND
[url]http://theundergroundtv.com[/url]
Music television for unsigned bands
El Brenty
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2030
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 8:37 pm
Location: Esher, Surrey, Land Of Hope And Glory
Contact:

Post by El Brenty »

Yeah, you can't park it on a street without road-tax, insurance, MOT here either. The street is a public road, your driveway isn't. Of course, depending on where you live, you can probably get away with it very easily if there's no-one to check on you.

You lot over in the USA are way too strict about stuff!
Moderating behind the bushes!
Raptor
Forum Veteran
Forum Veteran
Posts: 1027
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:47 am
Location: Altoona, PA, USA

Post by Raptor »

Like I said, depends where you live, I had my Mitsuibishi sitting in my mother's driveway for about 10 months, she lives like 10 miles away. SOme places, if you were allowed to leave unlicensed vehicles sit in the driveway/yard, prople would have a mini auto salvage yard going LOL.
The UNDERGROUND
[url]http://theundergroundtv.com[/url]
Music television for unsigned bands
User avatar
TXFilms
Member
Member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 2:38 pm

Post by TXFilms »

I'm in Indiana.(USA) And luckily, the house i'm in right now was originally a business. So its parking space is as big a the house itself. (Ok. Its a small house, but I could easily fit 7 cars in my parking lot, with room for you to walk around them and open doors without fear...)
I can cover it. Thats not a problem. That would be great actually, because its going to be covered in green on windows anyways. Thanks guys. you've been a great help.
El Brenty
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2030
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 8:37 pm
Location: Esher, Surrey, Land Of Hope And Glory
Contact:

Post by El Brenty »

It's what we're here for! ;-)
Moderating behind the bushes!
User avatar
TXFilms
Member
Member
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 2:38 pm

Post by TXFilms »

Didnt want to start a new thread. But, any ideas on refitting the van would be appreciated as well. I was thinking... (bad idea for me)
perhaps using styrofoam ducttape and chrome spraypaint... One seat in front. Welded or bolted to the ceiling to hang down and swivel. an y other good ideas come to mind?
Post Reply