The Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (VDRS) has been set up to allow minor vehicle defects to be rectified without the need for prosecution.
A list of ‘minor defects’ are:
The VDRS scheme is an optional scheme and you do not have to participate in it however the alternative may be prosecution.
You will be given the VDRS notice and you will have 7 days to rectify the faults identified and present your vehicle back to a Police Station of your choice for inspection.
If the faults have been rectified then no further action is taken.
If the faults have not been rectified then they will be liable for prosecution.
Communication is the key and as long as you contact the Officer concerned and explain this then an extension can be given. You must however make contact and let them know what the problem is.
No you don’t however this option has been set up to prevent members of the public being prosecuted for minor faults so if you do not participate you may be prosecuted.
The VDRS can be used for up to 5 minor faults. More than this and the Police have the power to take your vehicle to the Vehicle Test Centre and have a full examination carried out on it. This will be at your cost and you will be prosecuted for all the offences identified.
The VDRS will only be used on a limited amount of occasions. Regular offenders will be prosecuted depending on the time between each stop and the severity of the defects noted.
We understand that some bulbs may become defective mid-way through a journey. If this is the rear bulbs then you may not necessarily know about the defect. If a Police vehicle is spotted with a defective bulb and we are notified then it is taken off the road immediately and the fault rectified or it remains off the road until the defect can be fixed.
If you continue to drive your vehicle after being issued a VDRS notice you won’t be immune from prosecution. If the offences are more serious (tyres) then the Police may insist your vehicle remains in situ until you rectify the issue. If it is a wiper blade, registration number or something similar the Police may allow you to complete your journey but further use of the vehicle may render you liable to prosecution.
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