Our officers have many tools at their disposal – what they don’t usually rely on is time travel.

But that’s exactly what it felt like when Road Safety Team officers located a Ford Orion at South Woodham Ferrers on Wednesday 13 May.

Last produced in 1993, the four-door saloon is now firmly a classic with a nostalgic nod to cassette players and tapes instead of sat navs, and it seemed this Orion was determined to stay in the past.

Proudly displayed in the window was a tax disc that expired in 2011.

While the tradition of displaying a tax disc has long since disappeared, vehicle tax hasn’t. Today, it’s held digitally, checked instantly, and, crucially, still a legal requirement.

As officers took a closer look, the portal widened: there was no MOT held since 2012.

A computer check found it was registered as SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification), a legal declaration that a vehicle is not being used or kept on a public road.

Owning a classic car can be a source of pride. These vehicles are part of motoring heritage, lovingly restored, maintained, and often cherished.

But one thing hasn’t changed over the years: the law still applies, no matter how old your car is. Even if your vehicle turns heads or brings back memories, it must still be:

• Properly insured

• MOT-tested where required

• Taxed (even if the disc is no longer on display)

• Legally declared if off the road (SORN)

Unfortunately, enforcement caught up with nostalgia quickly, as the car was seized for no insurance.

Uninsured cars are often some of the most dangerous on our roads and we routinely work with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to make our roads safe.

So, whether you drive a brand-new electric vehicle or a classic Ford Orion, make sure your paperwork is firmly in the present day.

With permissions https://essexpolicemedia.co.uk/