Press release 26: DVLA seizes over 300 cars in car tax crime crackdown - Birmingham

DVLA advised motorists today to ensure their car tax is up to date after hundreds of illegal untaxed vehicles were removed from Birmingham’s streets.

During the three-month operation a fleet of vans, operated by contractor NCP, caught 248 vehicles without a valid tax disc.

The result of this car tax crackdown operation is great news for road safety in the Birmingham area. Since car tax can only be purchased with a valid MOT and insurance certificate, it reduces the number of potentially dangerous, untaxed, uninsured and unroadworthy vehicles on the road, helping to make the roads a safer place.

By targeting untaxed vehicles, DVLA is helping to fight wider vehicle crime. Occupants of untaxed cars are more likely to be involved in criminal activities involving drugs, anti-social behaviour, burglary and violent crime. Therefore, by taking their cars, criminals are denied the use of the road.

NCP's new vans are specially equipped with state-of-the-art Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology that automatically checks number plates against a list of untaxed vehicles in a matter of seconds.

This is bad news for car tax evaders because any car identified as untaxed will be immediately clamped and possibly impounded and those not claimed after seven days could be crushed.

Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "The clampdown on car tax evasion is great news for law abiding motorists and bad news for criminals. We are committed to helping reduce car crime and making the streets safer for everyone."

Bethan Beasley, Head of Wheel Clamping at DVLA said: "The success of the Birmingham operation marks a new chapter in our fight against car tax evasion. The new vans, combined with NCP’s national reach, mean we’re able to track down, impound and, potentially, crush untaxed vehicles quicker than ever before.

"We will continue our work in the north Birmingham area in the months to come and the results of this operation should make it clear to everyone that there is no hiding place for car tax cheats."

1. The results of the 2005 Roadside Survey revealed that there are an estimated 1.55m unlicensed vehicles in Great Britain. For 2005/2006, the estimated number of unlicensed vehicles in the West Midlands police force area was 86,000.
2. Members of the public can report unlicensed vehicles to DVLA online at www.direct.gov.uk/motoring or by ringing 08000 325 202
3. For clamped vehicles the release fee is high - £80. In addition, a valid vehicle licence must be produced. If a licence cannot be produced, a surety (£120 for a car or motorcycle, up to £600 for other vehicles) must be paid before the vehicle can be released. The surety payment is forfeited if a valid tax disc is not produced within two weeks.
4. NCP was awarded a three-year contract to operate DVLA’s wheelclamping scheme, effective from 1 May 2006.
5. In addition to the national scheme, DVLA is able to authorise local authorities and police forces to wheel clamp and impound untaxed vehicles in their area.

For press enquiries relating to this notice please contact:

Ruth Thomas or Beth Lewis

0207 025 6500

Ruth.Thomas@redconsultancy.com

For general DVLA press enquiries please contact:

DVLA Press Office

01792 782318

press.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk

For details of opportunities to ride along in an ANPR clamping van contact:

Tim Cowen or James Pritchard, NCP Communications 0207 290 234