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December 17, 2004
Another problem for Santa
Following the discovery that Santa's pilot's licence is invalid for commercial flying in the UK - delivery of parcels whether for payment or not is currently deemed to be "commercial" activity - Santa has had to make arrangements to use the road network. This has raised a number of other questions among the bureaucrats now responsible for public safety, health and safety, and transport.
Among the questions being examined by the jobsworth brigade is one of the suitability of sleigh runners instead of wheels on our roads. Then there is the question of MOT certificates, braking systems, warning lights, spare reindeer, and driving licences. It is believed that Santa may be able to satisfy this last requirement under the agreements for recognition of driver licensing arrangements between countries - provided he has a current EU (possibly Finnish) or appropriate license from the US. However, the information given to the Transport Section is not encouraging as regards the use of the sleigh on public roads.
The Transport (Road) Section is examining whether it will be legal for Santa to drive his sleigh in its present unregistered, untaxed, and un-insured state on the UK's motorways and subsidiary roads. Preliminary advice from the Treasury Solicitor and the Solicitor General's Department is that he would be committing an offence if he attempts to drive the sleigh (currently registered in the US according to the evidence, as an aircraft) on any road in the UK or the EU. Protests that he is actually resident in Finland and is therefore an EU resident are being examined, but this merely compounds the problem as it would appear that his flying licence, sleigh registration, and continued use of the sleigh in an unregistered state is a serious offence under current EU law.
A case is being prepared to impound the sleigh and bring appropriate charges against Santa through the appropriate EU court and using the newly formed EU police agreements if Santa cannot produce the necessary licenses, tax certificates, insurance, and other documents before attempting to use the vehicle.
Posted by The Gray Monk at December 17, 2004 09:40 AM