ROAD tax dodgers are being warned their cars could be crushed in a clampdown starting today. And they have been warned that there is no place to hide for those who think they are beyond the law.

ROAD tax dodgers are being warned their cars could be crushed in a clampdown starting today.

And they have been warned that there is no place to hide for those who think they are beyond the law.

Suffolk police are teaming up with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to carry out road side checks to ensure cars are displaying a valid tax disc.

A spokesman for the DVLA said: "DVLA wheel clampers will be present at the roadchecks and will clamp any unlicensed vehicles that are stopped. There is now no hiding place for those who think they are beyond the law."

There are an estimated 27,000 unlicensed vehicles on Suffolk's roads costing the tax payer £2.8 million in lost revenue.

The spokesman said: "We will be bringing in wheelclamping units and Stingray cameras to target the road tax cheats. Motorists whose vehicles are clamped for not having a valid disc will have to pay £200 release fee for the vehicle to be declamped at the roadside."

Using the latest technology the Stingray cameras automatically read number plates and check instantly if the road tax has been paid. The process takes a fraction of a second.

The spokesman warned that if clamped vehicles are not claimed within 24 hours the vehicle will be impounded and the fee will be £280 plus £15 a day storage.

He said: "Unclaimed, unlicensed vehicles will be crushed within 14 days. The message to anyone using an unlicensed vehicle is 'Don't risk it-tax it'."

As part of the campaign police will be stepping up their enforcement of other road safety offences such as no insurance and no MoT certificate.

The spokesman added: "Law abiding motorists have nothing to fear. Those whose tax disc has fallen off the windscreen or are a few days late renewing their tax will not be penalised."

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