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Fine for driver defrosting vehicle

03/01/08

A Lancashire man caught by police leaving his car unattended while it defrosted has refused to change his ways.

Ken Hardman, aged 45, could have lost more than his car insurance no claims bonus when he left the keys in the ignition of his Mercedes-Benz 180 while it thawed out should a thief have noticed it.

Police issued him with a £30 fine when they spotted the vehicle, which could have acted as an open invitation to criminals.

But Mr Hardman has responded to the fine by saying that police "should have better things to do than penalise law-abiding citizens".

"I asked what the offence was and was told it was quitting' - leaving your vehicle's engine running unattended on a public highway," Mr Hardman stated, adding: "I've always warmed up my car that way, and I see no reason to stop."

The incident took place last month, with the driver locking his car with a fob after turning the engine on to melt the exterior frost.

Police in the area were carrying out Operation Cold Start at the time, targeting residential neighbourhoods where car thieves are known to be in action.

This winter has seen police forces across the country warn drivers of the risks posed by leaving a car to defrost unattended, with officers in Newcastle being among the most recent despite a fall of 15 per cent in the city's number of car thefts during 2007.

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