Blitz on untaxed vehicles

ERRANT drivers felt the full force of the law this week.

A dozen vehicles left untaxed at the roadside were first clamped and then towed away.

It happened as a joint police-local authority snatch squad blitzed the town.

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Operation Enforce is an ongoing crack-down on motorists who clutter the streets with untaxed and often dangerous vehicles.

Inspector Dick Coates, of the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team, told the Observer: "If we could have got the tow trucks we could have taken many more. The whole of Rother district is being targeted over the next few weeks."

The squad comprised the town's traffic warden, Police Community Support Officers and specialists from Hastings Environment and Highways Department.

They moved with swift efficiency.

Within moments of a police car and a Hastings Environment and Highways van drawing up, a steel clamp had each offending vehicle in its steel jaws.

Two untaxed cars in Wickham Avenue were targeted.

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An untaxed Renault van in Sackville Road was clamped. In Western Road an Escort Estate and a Toyota Carina, both without tax, were clamped at the roadside. And all this before 10am.

Some drivers opted to pay up in order to have their vehicles unclamped and avoid the arrival of the dreaded tow-away truck.

Others found their vehicle had been removed. Either way, it is a costly and time-consuming process.

The penalties for ignoring the law are steep.

Recovering a vehicle which has been impounded involves a journey to either Eastbourne or Cripps Corner.

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To get a clamped vehicle released at the roadside costs 200 - payable by cash or credit card. The owner then has to produce a valid tax disc at the Hastings council offices, where they receive a 120 refund.

If the vehicle is towed away and impounded the fee to retrieve it within the first 24 hours is 200. If the owner produces a valid tax disc they receive a 120 refund.

But if the vehicle remains in the pound for more than 24 hours the fee is 280 - plus 15 a day storage.

Inspector Coates said: "Operation Enforce is the removal of untaxed and abandoned vehicles from the streets of Bexhill and the whole of Rother.

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"It has been made possible due to partnership working between Hastings Council, Rother District Council and the Safer Rother Partnership.

"The Operation will continue now on a weekly basis. Police will be removing all untaxed and abandoned vehicles from the streets.

"This is not just about the motorist either.

"Nearly all criminals use vehicles. Most of the time these are not taxed or insured causing a danger to everyone who uses the roads. We will also target these vehicles therefore making it more difficult for criminals to operate in Bexhill.

"If the public are aware of untaxed cars they are welcome to call us on the 0845 60 70 999 non emergency number. I would ask them to quote Operation Enforce and pass the details of the untaxed vehicles. Officers can then collate that information and target the vehicle and have it removed from the streets.

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"Anyone who has their car removed has to pay the to get a current tax disc and will be charged a removal fee. If they do not do this their car will be scrapped."

The first Clearer Streets campaign was launched last year. Then, it was preceded by a leaflet campaign bearing a photograph of a car being hoisted onto a tow truck and the warning "LIFTED!"