Council reaches car seizure milestone (From The Northern Echo)

Council reaches car seizure milestone

10:46pm Saturday 28th June 2008 in News By Karen Westcott

A CAMPAIGN to remove illegal or abandoned cars off the streets has reached a milestone.

The removal of a blue Vauxhall Astra, parked with no current tax disc from a street in South Bank, Teesside, was the 400th to be seized by Redcar and Cleveland Council's recovery team.

The car, removed by contractor Cleveland Auto Recyclers, was the latest to be taken off the streets since the council achieved devolved powers from the DVLA four years ago.

The council's cabinet member for community protection, councillor Dave McLuckie, said: "These vehicles can be a real menace to the community.

"It's absolutely essential we rid the streets of these vehicles, which are usually driven by people without any insurance, as well as having no tax.

"If they're involved in an accident, the victims would not be able to claim any form of compensation.

"It's absolutely essential we rid the streets of these vehicles, which are usually driven by people without any insurance, as well as having no tax.

Councillor Dave McLuckie,

"People should be aware that if they drive these untaxed vehicles, then leave them in the borough, we will pursue them and we will remove the vehicles."

Legislation allowed the vehicle, which had been spotted by the council's community protection officers during a routine patrol, to be removed to prevent it being classed as abandoned.

Since 2004, statistics show this course of action by the council has cut the number of abandoned or end of life vehicles, while many have also been found to be linked to other associated vehicle crime, including no insurance, no MOT or no recorded owner.

Reclaiming an untaxed vehicle demands the vehicle registration document and a valid tax disc and there are also payments due for keeping the vehicle, though the majority are never reclaimed.

The sliding scale of fees is £80 within 24 hours from time of removal, £160 after 24 hours, then £15 per day for storage up to seven days.

If the vehicle is not reclaimed, the DVLA can decide, subject to the vehicle's value, whether it will be destroyed or auctioned.