Uninsured and Nuisance Vehicles
30 Mar 2009
Today, ACC Finlay, Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins and Environment Minister Sammy Wilson announced new legislation, which gives Police the power to seize uninsured vehicles and vehicles causing alarm, distress or annoyance.
Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Finlay explained: “These measures will target not only uninsured drivers, but also people who are more likely to carry out other motoring offences and criminals engaged in illegal activity.
“We actively target those drivers who our intelligence indicates may be driving whilst uninsured, which resulted in over 4,000 detections for driving with no insurance during 2008.
“We have also expanded our use of the Motor Insurers Database to include deployment through our Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) technology, which is currently in use across Northern Ireland.
“This technology immediately alerts police officers in vehicles equipped with ANPR cameras, when the registration plate of a suspected uninsured vehicle is detected.
“Our message is clear. Whether using these vehicles on or off-road, you will be detected, the vehicle will be seized on the spot and you will face the full rigour of the law.”
Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins said: “These new powers are extremely important for the police to tackle the sort of motoring offences and anti social behaviour that take place across Northern Ireland on a daily basis.
“Uninsured vehicles are often involved in fatal road traffic and driving a vehicle in these circumstances is a crime in itself. These new measures provide additional support to the Department of the Environment’s Road Safety Strategy and will ensure the toughest criminal justice sanctions for those who break the law.
“Nuisance vehicles including quad bikes, go-peds and mini-scooters that are being used anti-socially can now be seized both on and off road including the police power to enter private grounds to make the seizure.
“Together we have created a package of powers that will help us tackle motoring offences, prevent crime, and address matters of concern to local communities.”
Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said: “I want to ensure that the PSNI have access to information on uninsured drivers and to ensure that motorists who drive without insurance are caught.
“Uninsured vehicles also impose a financial burden on honest motorists. It is estimated that every law-abiding motorist pays around £30 more a year in vehicle insurance because of uninsured motorists.
“These Regulations will enable the police to detect these motorists and take them off the road immediately if required.
“A vehicle can be sized and for a car it could cost several hundred pounds to get it back. And if unclaimed, it can be sold or destroyed.”
