An 83-year-old woman from Reading, who is partially blind and has never driven a car, has been convicted in a fast-track court for failing to tax her late husband’s vehicle. The car, a Volkswagen Touran, was transferred into her name in April 2025 by her daughter’s partner, who intended it to be used for future hospital visits. However, the woman never used the car and it has since been scrapped. The case was handled under the Single Justice Procedure, a system used for minor criminal cases that allows magistrates to deal with them privately, often without a trial. The woman told the court she was unaware of her responsibilities as the registered keeper of the car, as her late husband had always managed such matters during their 64-year marriage. She explained that the transfer was done in good faith, but she had no understanding of the legal obligations that came with ownership. She also mentioned that she had never driven and was largely housebound due to several disabilities, including partial sight. Magistrate Dr. Stephanie Smith decided not to return the case to the DVLA for further review, and the woman pleaded guilty in writing. As a result, she received an absolute discharge—meaning no fine was imposed—but was ordered to pay £242.92 in unpaid tax by mid-September. The Single Justice Procedure has come under scrutiny for regularly convicting elderly and sick individuals for failing to pay household bills, which critics say undermines public confidence in the courts. In her letter to the court, the woman expressed that she was still grieving the loss of her husband and had little awareness of the legal implications of the car transfer. She also mentioned that a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) was applied for by her daughter’s partner, but she still did not understand what that meant. The DVLA, which prosecutes thousands of motorists each week under the Single Justice Procedure, has called for reforms to ensure that magistrates review all mitigation letters before making decisions.