A TEENAGER has received a criminal conviction for not being insured for her car – before she had received it for her 18th birthday.
The waitress, from Poole in Dorset, was gifted a Fiat for her landmark birthday, but mistakenly did not insure it immediately.
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The teen explained in a letter to Ipswich magistrates court that she never drove the car as she had not received her licence at the time of the offence.
However, the DVLA charged her with keeping an uninsured vehicle and brought a criminal prosecution over the unpaid bill.
She pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place a few weeks before her 18th birthday.
“My family got the car for me as my 18th birthday present,” she wrote.
“I was still 17 at the time of the offence and had not actually been given the keys to the car and was not aware that it would be mine.”
She added that she and her dad have reading difficulties, and only realised the seriousness of what was happening when a friend read her the official letter.
She continued: “I have never used the car as I have still not passed my driving test.
“My dad is willing to pay the fine for me as he thinks this is his fault.
“He receives Universal Credit and PIP for his mental health, and I have just finished college and currently have a part-time job as a waitress on the minimum wage for an 18-year-old.
“I was a good student in school and college studying art and have never been in any trouble in my life.
“We just misunderstood the letter, I thought it said I had to SORN it or pay a fine if it doesn’t get sorted.
“I am very sorry.”
A magistrate slapped the teen with a 12-month conditional discharge instead of a fine.
But she chose not to send the case back to the DVLA for an extra public interest check.
The teen will now have a criminal conviction, and must also pay a £20 court fee.
It comes after news that one in six drivers admitted they have been behind the wheel without insurance.
A poll of 2,000 adults found 24 per cent of these did so only on a short journey, believing cover wasn’t necessary.
A fifth unknowingly committed the offence when their policy had expired, but 17 per cent did it as they wanted to save money.
And 15 percent drove uninsured because renewing their policy was a life admin task they kept putting off renewing.
Learner drivers are twice as likely to drive uninsured compared to those with a full driving license (37 per cent).
James Armstrong, a young driver expert at flexible car insurer Veygo, which commissioned the research, said: “Driving without insurance is a serious offence that can result in hefty fines, points on your licence, or even having your car seized.
“It’s worrying to see so many people are driving uninsured, especially as there are affordable options available for short-term cover.”
