Crackdown on 
uninsured cars

Across the district 696 cars were towed between June 2011 and May this year as police clamp down on uninsured drivers.

Kirklees had the second highest number of vehicle seizures in West Yorkshire, with the Bradford south area topping the table with 1,302 cars towed in total.

According to West Yorkshire Police, almost 5,000 vehicles have been seized in the county so far this year.

Drivers face large fines for being caught with no insurance policy – and risk their car being crushed if it remains uninsured.

Chief Insp Neil Hunter, head of roads policing, said: “A priority for patrolling roads policing officers is to identify and deal with uninsured motorists, but in addition, days of action are regularly carried out across West Yorkshire together with other agencies to identify specific motoring offences which include the seizure of uninsured vehicles.

“Any driver who is considering driving their vehicle whilst uninsured needs to be aware that this is identified to the police by automatic number plate recognition cameras both at locations throughout the force area and in patrolling police vehicles.”

He added that a new facility on the Police National Computer will allow police officers to check the insurance details of all vehicles 24 hours a day.

Police have had the power to seize uninsured vehicles since 2005, and of the 500 seized each day, it is estimated that 30 per cent are crushed.

New laws compare the Motor Insurance Database and the DVLA registered keeper records to identify uninsured vehicles.

Letters are then sent to the owner, warning them of a potential fine of up to £1,000 as well as other possible penalties.