Drivers Break Insurance and MOT Law

Road policing operations show more drivers break law over insurance and MOT

Police operations being carried out in Essex to curb travelling criminals and motoring crimes have identified a steady increase in insurance and MOT offences.

A series of stop checks in Thurrock and Basildon districts this week led to 24 uninsured vehicles being seized and 194 drivers fined for having no MOTs.
 
Essex Police’s Casualty Reduction Manager Adam Pipe said: “There is absolutely no excuse for driving a vehicle that is not insured or is potentially dangerous because it has no valid MOT.

“We have seen a steady increase across the county in the number of vehicles being stopped for having no insurance or no MOT and our road policing operations will continue to ensure that we drive home the message that these crimes will not be tolerated.

“These are serious offences because an uninsured vehicle means that if it causes a crash the driver could face massive costs for repairs or compensation to any injured passenger and the other parties involved have difficulties with insurance claims and could ultimately pay higher insurance policy charges.

“An uninsured driver would receive six penalty points, a £200 on-the-spot fine and will have the vehicle seized until insurance is provided.

“If a vehicles doesn’t have a valid MOT if could be a potential death trap and put the lives of innocent drivers or pedestrians at risk. Drivers without an MOT will get a £60 fine and repeat offenders will receive tougher penalties.”
 
During the police operation at various sites around Thurrock on Monday July 16 police stopped 102 cars with no MOT and seized a further 15 uninsured vehicles.
 
Five people were arrested. They were:
A 53-year-old man from Grays who was stopped for driving while disqualified. He was later charged with the offence and bailed to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on August 2.

A 40-year-old man from Basildon was stopped on suspicious of driving while disqualified. He was later bailed until September 3 pending further enquiries.

Two men and a boy were arrested after a vehicle failed to stop at a police check site at Corringham. They were arrested on suspicion of failing to stop for police and on suspicion of three burglaries at Corringham. A 22-year-old man from Grays and a boy aged 15 also from Grays were later bailed until August 31 pending further enquiries. A 21-year-old man from Grays was later released without charge.
 
In a similar road policing operation at Basildon on Tuesday July 17 officers stopped 92 vehicles without MoTs and also seized nine vehicles for having no insurance.
 

Ros Connors joined me on Drivetime last month, reporting on the Continuous Insurance Enforcement law to tackle uninsured motoring, as there are an estimated 1.2 million uninsured drivers on our roads. Under the scheme it is an offence to be the keeper of an uninsured vehicle, even if it is not on the road.

[audio:http://www.gateway978.com/www2/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Ros-Interview.mp3|titles=Continuous Motor Vehicle Insurance Enforcement]  
Published by Jack Sullivan, 2:29am Friday 20th July 2012