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Consultant’s Casebook from Eamonn Loney (MOT Consultant, ex VI Appeals Executive) Eamonn Loney at the EBL Partnership, Tel: 0117 9492943 (Extract from article published in MOT TestingMagazine November 2005) As more of you are computerised, much of VOSA’s annual audit work isn’t needed – it’s on the computer. So, with ‘housekeeping’ done automatically, VEs have more time for enforcement. Have a look at what they do: Incognito visits Here a VOSA VE poses as a motorist and watches the Test to pick up any problems. If everything’s OK, they pay the fee and go and a ‘credit’ is attached to your records. If not, the VE will normally return to the VTS within half an hour or so to interview the NT and AE. This half hour gives the VE time to record his evidence in his notebook. Then, weeks later you’ll get a contemplated disciplinary letter. Remember though, you should never receive a letter without first being able to defend yourself – on the day. If not, you may be able to successfully overturn any threat of disciplinary proceedings. Inverted appeals Here, disgruntled owners appeal a pass with VOSA who then re-examine the vehicle, providing the ‘appeal’ is made to them within 3 months (28 days for mechanical only items) – sometimes more. You should get 24 hours notice of the date and venue for the re-examination. Afterwards you will be asked to respond to any shortcomings the VE finds, and can make your defence in writing later on. With e-bay car sales, this could be hundreds of miles away. But even if it’s really inconvenient you should try to get there (From personal experience I would endorse this – Ed). If you don’t, you’ll be judged (and defended) on VOSA’s evidence alone. Re-inspection of a recently Tested vehicle Here VOSA arrive, often unannounced, and ask to re-Test a recently Tested vehicle to see if they reach the same decision as your NT. If there are failure items your NT hasn’t found it’s bad news! I think this is the fairest method of checking Tester competence because VOSA see the vehicle just as the Tester has – so good Testers needn’t worry. I suggest here that you politely refrain from letting the VE know your NT’s original result – you never know, the VE may pass the vehicle where it had been correctly failed – or vice versa! (how?) Road side checks VOSA can now stop vehicles without a policemen – and have 44 marked vehicles packed with sophisticated technical equipment,* allowing them to liaise with DVLA and other enforcement bodies, the Post Office etc. These roadside checks tend to concentrate on commercial vehicles, but I’ve noticed that several Class VII vehicles have been found with excessive corrosion defects with a VT20 is just days old. Very difficult to defend! Surveillance… Here, VEs sit outside premises, sometimes for days on end, observing times in and out of every vehicle attending a VTS. The data is cross referenced with the VT12 register. Sometimes certificates have been issued to vehicles that never entered the VTS – ouch! Such costly exercises tend only to be conducted against those sites with large throughputs i.e. over 20 tests a day and where intelligence has revealed concerns about standards and/or corruption. Not new None of this is new, but computerisation enables VOSA to release additional resources – and computerised data provides instant clues – sudden high volume, exceptionally short Tests and so on. So be careful, Test properly and always issue an advisory notice – it can be the difference between retaining and losing your authority to Test. *Note: In 2003 VOSA acquired 8 vehicles with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system which sends pictures of number plates to a computer containing a list of vehicles of specific interest – for example, those not shown on an operator’s licence, without a Test certificate, are under prohibition, or untaxed. It is mobile and can operate from the side of the road, on bridges, and can cover four lanes of traffic at any one time, day or night, in almost any weather conditions. Better road safety? Yes, that’s more like it! Eamonn Loney eamonn.loney@virgin.net

Full story in MOT Testing 47 Nov 05.

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