SUFFOLK police officers are teaming up with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in a campaign to crackdown on road tax dodgers.It is estimated that more than 24 000 untaxed vehicles are currently on Suffolk's roads, representing an estimated loss in revenue of £2.8 million.

SUFFOLK police officers are teaming up with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in a campaign to crackdown on road tax dodgers.

It is estimated that more than 24 000 untaxed vehicles are currently on Suffolk's roads, representing an estimated loss in revenue of £2.8 million.

Untaxed vehicles will be clamped, and if they are not claimed within 24 hours they will be impounded.

Impounded vehicles of no value will be disposed of by crushing after 14 days. Any vehicle of significant value will be resold at auction.

Costs to owners who wish to reclaim their vehicle at any stage of this process will be high.

It costs £80 to release a clamped vehicle, plus production of a valid licence. If a licence cannot be produced then a surety of between £120 and £600, depending on the nature of the vehicle, will be taken.

This surety will be forfeit if a valid licence disc is not produced within two weeks.

Impounded vehicles will incur a release fee of £160 as well as an additional storage charge of £15 a day.

Additionally, owners of unlicensed vehicles face the prospect of prosecution with fines of up to £1,000 plus the back tax owed and legal costs.

Chief Inspector Alan Pawsey of Suffolk Police, head of traffic, said: "Experience has shown us that often, cars without tax are also uninsured, do not have current MoT certificates and may have defects which make them a hazard to other road users.

"Getting these potentially unsafe vehicles off the road before they cause an accident is one way that we can improve road safety."