BEWARE

[ennagail24]

THIS WAS POSTED ON POWERBOAT.IE....... BEWARE!!!!
Hey all,
Just heard from a cop buddy of mine that a new Clampdown in our highly policed state is being widely enforced.

The law are cracking down majorly on towing anything for leisure (Boats/Jet Ski's/Motor bikes/Rally Cars Etc) with a Commercially taxed Van or Jeep.

He also told me that a Rib and Jeep (commercial type) were both impounded recently in Cork for this offence and weren't released until the Jeep was taxed privately. (Apparently this happened on a Saturday and the owner couldn't get his jeep taxed until the following Tuesday) When he went to collect both, he was charged €130 a night for storage of the Car & Boat...

Nasty stealth way of collecting more monies

[hugo]

But I wonder was that a 2-seater van type jeep or a full-seated and windowed 4X4? I see a quite a few of the latter around with commercial tax and always wondered how they get away with it.

[ennagail24]

But I wonder was that a 2-seater van type jeep or a full-seated and windowed 4X4? I see a quite a few of the latter around with commercial tax and always wondered how they get away with it.

it was a loop-hole, for a few years you could drive/tax as commercial but bring the kids fully insured in the back, McCreevy closed the loop-hole a few years back

[squirrel~]

so what is the law, are you not allowed to use the van unless for work?

[Dave Jolly]

Apparently in the budget they changed the laws relating to commercial insurance, now you are not allowed to have a commercially insured and taxed 4x4/jeep/crewcab etc unless you also have a vat number, thus indicating that you are a business and qualify for commercial tax etc.
You are not supposed to use a comercially taxed vehicle for private use, or conversly use a private vehicle for commercial work.
To throw another few spanners into the works, you may not tow a double axled trailer legally on Irish roads without using a 4 wheeled vehicle, and if the weight of the trailer you are towing is over 750kg it must be a braked trailer, and you must also hold at least a cat. EB1 license your normal driving license will not cover you.
All these will be enforced from a revenue gathering point of view more and more in the future......

[hugo]

Wonder if any of the small farmers know about this? Loads of them round me using old jeeps for everything.

[oscar]

So what can you tow with your normal, common or garden driving licence then? Is there a weight or size restriction?

[dublin13]

You can only pull a trailer with a designed max of 750 kg,
if you are pulling a trailer rated higher but empty you are
outside the law, the 4 wheel drive rule would proberly not stand
up in court as most 4 wheel drives are 2 wheel drives in normal
driving mode

[JimC]

The subject of towing and licencing was covered here http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... lit=towing

[oscar]

Dave Jolly, you've got a PM

[screeming reels]

hi, a friend of mine, managed after many days and frustration to get the lowdown off the revenue, he was told in writing , that it effects the crewcabs only as they are 5 seaters, hence passenger, but with the trouble he had ( including using local TD to get answers) its hardly suprising there is confusion out there.
regards
screeming

[PaPaSmurf]

Hi lads
Very good post this especialy the links !!! thanks
Quick question ( s ) for a self built trailer it wont have the plates as fitted by manufacturers,, what then?? weigh it then make your own next what is the max overhang allowed from end of trailer. Any ideas.
Looks like we all need to double check our rigs to stay safe
Cheers
George M