Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994

Other offences

44 Forgery and fraud

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he forges, fraudulently alters, fraudulently uses, fraudulently lends or fraudulently allows to be used by another person anything to which subsection (2) applies.

(2) This subsection applies to—

(a) a vehicle licence,

(b) a trade licence,

(c) a document in the form of a licence which is issued in pursuance of regulations under this Act in respect of a vehicle which is an exempt vehicle under paragraph 19 of Schedule 2,

(d) a registration mark,

(e) a registration document, and

(f) a trade plate (including a replacement trade plate).

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or (except in Scotland) to both.

45 False or misleading declarations and information

(1) A person who in connection with—

(a) an application for a vehicle licence or a trade licence,

(b) a claim for a rebate under section 20, or

(c) an application for an allocation of registration marks,

makes a declaration which to his knowledge is either false or in any material respect misleading is guilty of an offence.

(2) A person who makes a declaration which—

(a) is required by regulations under this Act to be made in respect of a vehicle which is an exempt vehicle under paragraph 19 of Schedule 2, and

(b) to his knowledge is either false or in any material respect misleading,

is guilty of an offence.

(3) A person who—

(a) is required by this Act to furnish particulars relating to, or to the keeper of, a vehicle, and

(b) furnishes particulars which to his knowledge are either false or in any material respect misleading,

is guilty of an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or (except in Scotland) to both.

46 Duty to give information

(1) Where it is alleged that a vehicle has been used on a road in contravention of section 29, 34 or 37—

(a) the person keeping the vehicle shall give such information as he may be required to give in accordance with subsection (7) as to the identity of the driver of the vehicle or any person who used the vehicle, and

(b) any other person shall give such information as it is in his power to give and which may lead to the identification of the driver of the vehicle or any person who used the vehicle if he is required to do so in accordance with subsection (7).

(2) Where it is alleged that a vehicle has been kept on a road in contravention of section 29—

(a) the person keeping the vehicle shall give such information as he may be required to give in accordance with subsection (7) as to the identity of the person who kept the vehicle on the road, and

(b) any other person shall give such information as it is in his power to give and which may lead to the identification of the person who kept the vehicle on the road if he is required to do so in accordance with subsection (7).

(3) Where it is alleged that a vehicle has at any time been used on a road in contravention of section 29, the person who is alleged to have so used the vehicle shall give such information as it is in his power to give as to the identity of the person who was keeping the vehicle at that time if he is required to do so in accordance with subsection (7).

(4) A person who fails to comply with subsection (1), (2) or (3) is guilty of an offence.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(6) If a person is charged with an offence under subsection (4) consisting of failing to comply with subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a), it is a defence for him to show to the satisfaction of the court that he did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, the identity of the person or persons concerned.

(7) A person is required to give information in accordance with this subsection if he is required to give the information by or on behalf of—

(a) a chief officer of police or, in Northern Ireland, the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(b) the Secretary of State.