GB2364817A

GB2364817A - Tamper evident tax disc

Info

Publication number: GB2364817A
Application number: GB0013340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Cordell
Original assignee: HILLS HI SPEED PLATES Ltd
Current assignee: HILLS HI SPEED PLATES Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-01
Filing date: 2000-06-01
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: GB0013340D0

Abstract

A tax disc for a vehicle windscreen comprises a generally planar body which displays information regarding the tax paid and the respective vehicle. Part of the disc can be destroyed, but the information is left intact. There may be two areas of the disc, both displaying information, one part being the destructible part, and this may be formed of frangible material. There may also be a backing sheet to the disc which shows a message, such as "VOID", when the destructible part of the disc has been destroyed.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> TAMPER EVIDENT TAX DISC The invention relates to a tax disc, i.e. the disc which is displayed on a vehicle windscreen showing that a road tax has been paid for a defined period. At present a paper disc is either sent out by DVLA or issued by a Post Office. The details of the vehicle are recorded on the disc together with the expiry date. The information recorded on the disc is in relatively small type and cannot be read from a distance of more than say one metre from the vehicle. The fact that the information on the disc cannot be read except by close scrutiny has resulted in a black market trade for stolen tax discs. A vehicle displaying a stolen disc is only likely to be discovered when a parking ticket is issued or when a vehicle is stopped for a road traffic offence. Therefore the UK Government loses many millions of pounds in vehicle excise duty as a result of this weakness in the system. It is an object of the invention to provide a tax disc which will display in a conspicuous way if it has been removed from the vehicle to which it genuinely applies to another vehicle and yet which can be used to claim a refund of the excise duty when appropriate. In one aspect the invention provides a tax disc for a vehicle windscreen comprises a generally planar body which displays information identifying the tax paid and the respective vehicle, and means for destroying part of the disc, but leaving the information intact.

The means for destroying a part of the disc may take a variety of forms. In one embodiment the part is formed of a material which when subjected to a detachable force disintegrates, i.e. the part to be destroyed has less mechanical strength than the remaining part. Preferably the disc is made of two areas, each displaying the information and one of which is intended for destruction. In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one disc of the invention to be applied to a windscreen, and Figure 2 is the same view of the disc once removed from the windscreen. The disc comprises a circular body 1 of paper or plastics laminate. The body is divided by a score line 2 into portions 1A, 1B. The two portions carry the same information which may be printed and/or hand written, i.e. the tax paid; the vehicle, by registration number and make; the month and year of expiry. The upper portion is made of one more permanent material and the other, i.e. the lower of a more frangible material (which may be a mechanically or chemically weaker version of the first material or a different material altogether).

In use the disc is completed and issued. When it is applied, e.g stuck to a windscreen, both portions 1A, 113, are fixed. When the disc is to be removed portion 1 B is pulled away and disintegrates in preference to portion 1A. In other words, the key feature of a disc according to the invention is that when subjected to a release movement from the windscreen or from a container attached to the windscreen a portion of the disc is recognisably destroyed and the remaining product appears corrupt. As a result, while the remaining portion will be accepted for a refund of any remaining tax life, it will not be treated as a valid tax disc on a vehicle windscreen. The lower part 1 B may have a residual backing sheet 1 C printed with the word VOID, as shown in Figure 2, or only a semicircle, 1A will be left. It will be seen that the invention provides a design of tax disc in which half the disc would be destroyed on removal from the windscreen, but the other half would remain intact, retaining all the information about the vehicle and expiry date of the disc. The owner of a vehicle could then return a disc for refund without any problems, but a stolen disc would be rendered useless and this would end the trade in stolen tax discs. A number of other features may be added to stop counterfeiters, it would also be possible to print the label to reflective materials and thereby enhance the image for remote camera reading and vehicle recognition systems. Although the article has been described as a tax disc the invention extends to articles which are not circular such as oblong, triangular or polygonal. A tax disc of the invention may be used on taxed road vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trucks and like taxable vehicles.

The disc may be displayed on the windscreen or in a plastics container which is adhered to the windscreen. It may, however, be secured to the vehicle in any other way.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A tax disc for a vehicle windscreen comprising a generally planar body which displays information identifying the tax paid and the respective vehicle, and means for destroying part of the disc but leaving the information intact.
2. A disc according to Claim 1, wherein two areas of the disc are defined, each displaying the printed information and one of which is intended for destruction.
3. A disc according to Claim 2, wherein the portion to be destroyed is formed of frangible material.
4. A disc according to any preceding Claim, including a backing sheet behind the part to be destroyed and to be left connected to the remaining part when the destructible part is destroyed, and carrying a message to show that the disc has been corrupted, e.g. the word "VOID".