In 1930. long before SORN declarations, a car owner went to renew his ‘road fund’ licence. He presented the correct form and was asked whether he had used the car while it was unlicensed. “Yes, almost every day”. he said. He was refused the new licence and was duly summonsed. The case went to court. The car owner handed the rejected form to the magistrate with a note on it. which said “car used unlicensed only on my own private property-. Case dismissed. We now have to declare SORN on laid-up vehicles. Let us guard against prohibition on their use away from public roads!