Drivers without license and car insurance in the police net

Drivers of Lothians be very careful as every month almost 150 motorbikes and cars have been seized by the police who are driving without a license or who do not own an Car Insurance cover. This has led to almost one-third of cars being converted to scrap or being sold after owners failed to turn up to claim their vehicles. Under laws introduced in June 2006, the police could impound vehicles, which are not driven by proper license holders or without a valid insurance.

The police have seized as many as 1387 vehicles between January and September and almost 846 have been taken off the road. Motorists have welcomed this move, as they believe that it has helped in reducing the number of accidents on the roads. The liaison officer of the force believes that drivers who drive without a valid license or insurance policy are more likely to be involved in an accident that those who have their papers in place. It is therefore in the larger interest, that such drivers should be taken off the road.

However, the good news is that such action has prompted drivers to drive with a valid insurance and license and therefore the seizure rate has dropped to by a quarter in this year.
Owners are severely punished, as they have to pay a removal fee of £105 and a daily storage fee of £12 till they remove their cars.
The first nine months of this year saw a total of 485 vehicles being sold or scrapped. This seizure has also unearthed several other crimes such as drug possession. Most of the vehicles, which have been impounded, belonged to immigrants from Eastern Europe and are not aware of rules and regulations of Scotland. Studies have shown that most law-abiding drivers are only too happy to have cars of such drivers not only being seized but given strong punishment as well. This measure also steps up action against all antisocial activities and terrorism. So far as many as 612 warnings have been issued to antisocial people.