Crusher threat faced by illegal drivers

The Courier
Jun. 06, 2006

CAR OWNERS caught driving without a licence or insurance in Tayside could become the first in Scotland have their vehicle reduced to scrap metal.

Tough new powers in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 will allow officers to put the squeeze on “irresponsible and selfish” motorists.

More than 2000 cases of people driving without insurance, and 800 cases of driving while unlicensed, were reported in Tayside last year.

Now cars can be seized and crushed if document offences are detected—and the region’s top police officer said yesterday a “clear message” is being sent to would-be offenders.

Chief Constable John Vine was speaking at a scrapyard in Dundee, where he saw first-hand the car-crushing equipment in operation.

Mr Vine hopes Tayside Police will become the first force in Scotland to make effective use of the legislation, already in force south of the border.

“Unlicensed and uninsured drivers are a threat to all road users, and we aim to remove that threat by removing their means of transport,” said Mr Vine.

“In other words, if they have no licence, no insurance, then soon they will have no car.”

A brief pilot will be carried out in Angus, but the chief constable said, “There will be no period of grace. The law is the law.

“What we want to make clear is that it is not acceptable to drive without insurance as you are posing a risk to other road users and potential victims.”

An RAC Foundation and Max Power study showed 30% of young drivers have driven without insurance, while 77% of people know someone who has driven without insurance.

It is estimated 5% of all motorists drive uninsured, adding £30 to £60 to the average insurance premium.

Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman said, “Where a police officer has reasonable cause to believe a vehicle is being driven on a road whilst the driver is unlicensed or uninsured, that officer will require the driver to immediately produce their driving documents.

“If the driver fails to do so the vehicle may be seized.

“The driver will be issued with a seizure notice at the roadside, and will then have seven days to produce valid documents and obtain a release notice from divisional police headquarters before the vehicle is disposed of.

“The driver will also be liable to pay the recovery and storage cost for the vehicle which is currently £105 recovery plus £12 per day storage.”

Statistics show uninsured drivers are six times more likely to drive an unroadworthy vehicle and up to nine times more likely to be involved in an accident.

Mr Vine added, “It is the law abiding citizens who are paying the consequences for these irresponsible, selfish drivers.”