WE'RE out to get you!That's the defiant message today from the police and licencing authorities to drivers of vehciles without tax discs.They're warning that they could be snapped by roadside cameras, clamped, and even crushed if they don't pay for a new disc.
WE'RE out to get you!
That's the defiant message today from the police and licencing authorities to drivers of vehciles without tax discs.
They're warning that they could be snapped by roadside cameras, clamped, and even crushed if they don't pay for a new disc.
The driver and vehicle licensing authority today linked up with police forces in Suffolk and Norfolk for a blitz on unlicenced vehicles.
And it warned there could be draconian punishments for the drivers.
From July 12 DVLA wheelclamping units will be operating in the region.
Any vehicle spotted without a valid tax disc will be clamped. It will cost £200 to release the clamp.
If the vehicle is not claimed within 24 hours it will be impounded and will cost £280 to release - the fee rises by £15 each successive day.
If a valid tax disc is shown when the vehicle is reclaimed, the DVLA will knock £120 off the bill.
If the vehicle is not claimed within 14 days of being impounded, it will be crushed.
Just because your vehicle is moving will be no escape - special mobile cameras will be set up and vehicles without a valid licence could be stopped and driver's documents searched.
Under the slogan: "No exceptions, no excuses, and no escape," Inspector Mike Hinshelwood of Suffolk police warned his officers would be clamping down hard with DVLA support.
"Cars are often untaxed because their drivers don't have a driving licence or insurance," he said.
"Some of these drivers often have little respect for the law in general and these are the people we will be targetting in particular.
"The type of checks we have planned for July often result in the arrest of burglars, drug dealers and people already banned from driving for serious offences - caught by the police because the car they were driving had no tax."
Is it right for the police and DVLA to clamp down on unlicenced vehicles? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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