A conviction and fine against Mayor of London Lord Sadiq Khan for failing to tax a vehicle have been formally withdrawn following a DVLA request to Hereford Magistrates' Court.
City Hall officials stated that Khan had been the victim of a scam involving fraudulent vehicle registrations. The vehicle in question, a 24-year-old Nissan Micra, does not belong to Khan or Transport for London (TfL).
A spokesperson for the Mayor's office described the incident as a scam, noting that Khan had previously been targeted by individuals falsely claiming he owned vehicles. The DVLA has been made aware of this illegal activity.
During a brief hearing on Thursday, a panel of magistrates agreed to reopen the case against Khan and mark it as withdrawn, as requested by the DVLA. Neither Khan nor a DVLA representative were present in court.
The legal advisor informed the magistrates that the case had received significant media attention and that the DVLA requested the matter be withdrawn. The chairwoman of the bench accepted the reopening of the case and confirmed the withdrawal.
The original conviction, which occurred last month, stemmed from a prosecution by the DVLA. Court records indicated that the annual tax on the Nissan Micra, first registered in 2002, had expired in September of the previous year. The DVLA had stated that Khan was listed as the keeper of the vehicle when it was identified as untaxed on January 24. A letter requesting confirmation of the owner's identity, sent to Khan in January, reportedly went unanswered.
The conviction in his absence led to a £220 fine, £85 in costs, and the repayment of £35.84 in unpaid tax. However, DVLA correspondence regarding the unpaid tax was reportedly sent to a restaurant owned by Gordon Ramsay, rather than TfL offices.
The DVLA, which utilizes the single justice procedure (SJP) for numerous prosecutions related to unpaid car tax and insurance, has not provided an explanation for how Khan became the subject of this prosecution.
Critics have referred to the SJP as "conveyor belt justice," citing the speed at which magistrates often decide cases. The DVLA relies on motorists to supply accurate vehicle information, and deliberately providing false details is a criminal offense.