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Clampdown will mean 'safer streets' for car insurance customers

30/08/07

Car insurance customers may benefit from a clampdown on untaxed vehicles being carried out by law enforcers in Wiltshire.

This is according to Chief Inspector Nick Elton, head of the Wiltshire Police Road Policing Unit, who expressed his department's commitment to safer roads in the county.

Speaking to the Swindon Advertiser, Chief Inspector Elton said that by confiscating untaxed vehicles, the number of automobiles on the road without car insurance or which are potentially dangerous or not roadworthy is reduced.

During August, more than 70 vehicles without a valid licence have been clamped or towed away.

Since a car insurance certificate and valid MOT are needed in order to pay for car tax, many untaxed vehicles also belong to drivers without car insurance.

Vehicles impounded by law enforcers could be crushed if not claimed after a period of seven days, Chief Inspector Elton said.

He continued: "This is a countywide operation and is great news for law-abiding motorists and bad news for criminals."

Earlier this month, officers in Northampton removed seven untaxed vehicles from the roads in Dunston and Far Cotton, the city's Chronicle and Echo reported.

The action came after local residents lodged complaints about what they said were high numbers of vehicles in the area that appeared to be without tax.

Police Constable Victoria Howe warned that those whose vehicles had been clamped or seized need to pay the back tax, full tax, MOT, car insurance and a handling fee in order to get their car back and avoid it being crushed.

She told the paper: "These patrols will be repeated in the near future and motorists are reminded that it is an offence to have your car on the road without the required documentation."

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