Safe Speed Forums

My God. Why on earth would they even consider charging him the fee once it became clear it was a mistake? They should have paid him compensation.

We need serious answers here fast.

Very sad, this is just so wrong. The powers that be have just scored an enormous own goal

What if the car WAS on the database, but the officer simply keyed in the wrong reg

MIRROR
CAR CRUSH COPS FURY
A CAR was crushed by police who wrongly claimed it was uninsured.

Officers towed away Steven Booth's Peugeot 205, saying number plate recognition technology showed it should not have been on the road.

Steven, 36, produced his AA insurance the same day. But officers said he would have to pay £105 to get his car back.


The delivery driver, from Bolton, refused. Two weeks later, his £450 K-reg car was crushed.


Furious Steven said: "I did nothing wrong." The AA confirmed: "Mr Booth was fully insured." Police are investigating.

Insured driver's fury as police crush car
Paul Britton
A MOTORIST is considering legal action after his car was crushed by police who wrongly accused him of driving it without insurance.

Fruit and vegetable delivery driver Steven Booth, 36, from Farnworth, was stopped by a patrol car as he drove to work in Bolton.

The father-of-four said police told him they could not find his details on a national database, although his insurers had renewed the policy four days earlier.

The car, a K-registered Peugeot 205, was towed away to a garage and impounded.

Mr Booth's wife Rachael, the policyholder, took the AA insurance certificate to a police station the following morning, but the couple were presented with a recovery charge of £105 and refused to pay. The bill rose by £12 for every subsequent day - and the car was crushed 14 days later.

Today the AA, who confirmed Mr Booth was fully insured, called on police to take a `balanced approach'.

Police bosses, however, are understood to be angry at delays in updating the database.

They are investigating whether the seizure was lawful, but said a notice of disposal was signed at the garage by the Booths.

Seized

Mr Booth, who has complained to the Independent Police Complaints Committee, said: "I said I would produce my documents and they said they did not do that anymore, they seized uninsured cars.

"Everything was legal but they wanted £105. It was just after Christmas and I couldn't afford it. I borrowed the money, but when I went back the garage was closed. I went back there and was told it had risen to £117.

"The police should not have taken the vehicle off me so why should I pay? I did nothing wrong and everything was legal.

"My 10-year-old son has autism and we have had to get buses to the hospital."

Insurance bosses and police have launched separate investigations into the incident.

The AA, which acted as insurance brokers, confirmed the insurance was renewed on January 4.

The AA's Ian Crowder said: "Mr Booth did not do anything wrong. We believe this is not the first time it has happened and we are making representations to the police to try and make sure they take a balanced approach."

A police statement said: "It is the responsibility of insurance companies, not police forces, to ensure that insurance policy details are updated on the national motor insurance database. When deciding if a car should be towed for insurance or licence violations, officers must show `reasonable belief' that an offence has taken place.

"Due to inaccuracies on the motor insurance database officers should not only rely on details held there to constitute `reasonable belief'.

"Inquiries into the exact circumstances are ongoing, but at this stage it appears unlikely that the car was towed unlawfully.

"The insurance policy holder for the car in question signed an official document at the recovery centre on 8 January, authorising the company to dispose of the vehicle.

"Despite providing a service where recovery fees can be reimbursed under certain circumstances, GMP has not received any request for reimbursement following the seizure of this car."

Can you refuse the reasonable instructions of a police officer?

"Despite providing a service where recovery fees can be reimbursed under certain circumstances, GMP has not received any request for reimbursement following the seizure of this car."

"Everything was legal but they wanted £105. It was just after Christmas and I couldn't afford it. I borrowed the money, but when I went back the garage was closed. I went back there and was told it had risen to £117.

I'm sorry, since when was convicting someone of an offence and removing property without adequate proof or the chance to defend one's self REASONABLE?

152 Power to seize etc. vehicles driven without licence or insurance

After section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52) insert-

165A Power to seize vehicles driven without licence or insurance

1. Subsection (5) applies if any of the following conditions is satisfied.
2. The first condition is that-
   1. a constable in uniform requires, under section 164, a person to produce his licence and its counterpart for examination,
   2. the person fails to produce them, and
   3. the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that a motor vehicle is or was being driven by the person in contravention of section 87(1).
3. The second condition is that-
   1. a constable in uniform requires, under section 165, a person to produce evidence that a motor vehicle is not or was not being driven in contravention of section 143,
   2. the person fails to produce such evidence, and
   3. the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that the vehicle is or was being so driven.
4. The third condition is that-
   1. a constable in uniform requires, under section 163, a person driving a motor vehicle to stop the vehicle,
   2. the person fails to stop the vehicle, or to stop the vehicle long enough, for the constable to make such lawful enquiries as he considers appropriate, and
   3. the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that the vehicle is or was being driven in contravention of section 87(1) or 143.

at the very least this chap should be given a brand new car all paid for for 1 year as compensation and as a gesture of good will dont you think so too?