The Fraudulent Motorist
| Date | 01 July 1935 |
| Published date | 01 July 1935 |
| Author | A. Victor Meek |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X3500800310 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
The Fraudulent Motorist
By
SERGEANT
A.
VICTOR
MEEK
Metropolitan Police
IN
these days of the almost universal use of motor vehicles
most police officers have, no doubt, at some time en-
countered in one form or another the fraudulent motorist.
Having been employed since December, 1930, on Motor
Cycle Traffic Patrol duty, I have been fortunate in meeting
with perhaps more than my fair share, so that, in describing
such cases as have come my way, I do so in no boastful spirit
but
in the hope that they may prove of interest to such as
care to read. '
The
methods of the fraudulent driver can be divided,
roughly, into three main headings, and each into three sub-
headings.
Thus:
(I)
Forgery or alteration of (a) Driving licences;
(b)
Insurance certificates;
(c)
Excise licences;
(2) Borrowing and lending
(a),
(b),
and
(c)
;
(3) Obtaining by false statement
(a),
(b),
and
(c).
In
this order I will deal with them.
Forged
Driving
Licences
The
forgery of driving licences is a rarity, due, no doubt,
to the trifling cost of a licence, namely
5s.
a year. I encountered
one in August, 1932.
The
rider of a motor-cycle, coming
towards me, stopped when about fifty yards away and began
to examine his engine. I went over to him and offered
assistance but could find no apparent trouble. This aroused
my suspicion that he had stopped to avoid me. I asked to
325
326
THE
POLICE
JOURNAL
see his driving licence and he produced ablue-jacketed one,
apparently issued by the London County Council, 19-9-3
I.
The
colour of the holder was incorrect for a licence of that
date, as all issued after 30-II-30 were in red holders, and the
licences had a space at the bottom for the holder's signature,
with the words at the
top"
Issued under R.T.A.,
1930".
This one, however, was issued under the Motor Car Act,
19°3, and had no space for signature, and had, in fact, been
issued on 19-9-29. On examination, the forgery was evident,
as the fresher ink of the altered dates contrasted strongly
with the faded ink of the other written particulars. Although,
at the time, the rider insisted that the licence was genuine,
and protested strongly against my seizing it, he pleaded guilty
at Court and was fined £10 for forging the licence, a justly
expensive charge for a paltry deceit, although well within the
maximum penalty of four months' imprisonment and £100
fine on summary conviction.
The
penalty on indictment for
this offence (Section II2, R.T.A., 1930) is imprisonment for
a maximum of two
years-all
for
5s.
False Insurance Certificates
Alteration, by the holder, of a current insurance certificate
is also infrequent, doubtless because the transfer of a policy
from one vehicle or person to another is simply effected, either
gratis, or on payment of a small fee, usually
2S.
6d.. Cases
come to light, from time to time, of criminals using stolen
driving licences and insurance certificates which have been
altered to cover the false index numbers of stolen motor-cars.
As the Road Traffic Act, 1930, does not make compulsory
the carrying of such documents by the driver, the production
of other false evidence of identity would normally satisfy a
police officer, if the car was stopped for some ordinary traffic
offence, or involved in an accident.
In
such cases, indeed,
the occupants often abandon the stolen vehicle rather than
risk conversation with
anyone
likely to be able to recognize
them at the time, or to identify them later, so that the forging
To continue reading
Request your trial