Thought I should put this here.
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10,000 cars seized in clampdown
Wednesday, 4th October 2006
John Scheerhout
POLICE have seized 10,000 cars in Greater Manchester since they began using new powers to crack down on the "staggering" number of rogue drivers.
About 3,000 of the seized vehicles have been crushed, and the rest handed back to their owners once they paid fines and recovery fees and made the cars roadworthy.
Police believe the crackdown, launched nine months ago, is helping make the streets safer by forcing rogues off the road.
Each driver was issued with a £200 on-the-spot fine or handed a greater fine in court - depending on the state of their car and whether it had the correct documentation.
Officers say they have reached a major milestone since they started to use new powers to seize uninsured or untaxed cars.
During the summer, we published a picture of a mountain of the crushed cars.
Police say uninsured drivers are six times more likely to have convictions for driving unroadworthy vehicles and nine times more likely to have convictions for drink-driving.
They are also more likely to flee an accident and put lives at risk.
'Staggering'
And their crimes are said to put an extra £30 on every car insurance premium.
Sgt Paul Philbin, who co-ordinates the seizures, said: "The number of drivers on the road illegally is staggering. We are determined to stop this and make roads safe for everyone."
Chief Insp Haydn Roberts said: "We are leading the way in preventing criminals using the region's roads. In nine months, we have worked tirelessly to seize 10,000 vehicles. We aim to continue to work closely with insurance companies and the Motor Insurers' Bureau to ensure drivers who continue to drive illegally will be brought before the courts."
To find the rogues, officers use Automatic Number Plate Recognition System cameras alongside an insurance industry database of uninsured drivers.
Vehicles not registered on the database automatically trigger an alert to officers who, under new powers, can seize cars.
Drivers unable to produce proof of insurance have their vehicles impounded.
Ashton West, from the Motor Insurers' Bureau, said: "Greater Manchester's efforts are a shining example of what can be achieved by police."
To reclaim their vehicles, owners must pay £105 for recovery, £12 a day storage, and a £200 fixed penalty notice or a fine imposed by a court. If an owner fails to reclaim the vehicle within 14 days, it is crushed, scrapped or sold.
Looks like a big buisness to me.
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