Published: Tuesday, 30th December, 2008 12:00pm

Police target uninsured and unlicensed drivers

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HUNDREDS of uninsured and unlicensed drivers have had their cars seized by police this year.

Thames Valley Police has removed over 6,000 vehicles from the roads between January and November, including 705 in Slough, 230 in Windsor and Maidenhead, and 250 in South Bucks.

Ch Insp Gill Wootton, from the Roads Policing Department, said: "The sheer numbers of cars seized so far this year show how determined officers are to get unlicensed and uninsured drivers off the road.

"Evidence from a range of sources show uninsured and unlicensed drivers are more likely to have a collision and less likely to have other valid documentation for their vehicle, such as a MOT or Vehicle Excise License. For the law abiding road user, these drivers push up their insurance premiums by on average £30 a year.

"Anyone driving without a license or insurance should be aware that Thames Valley Police can and will seize your car and you will have to pay penalties, sometimes higher than the cost of insurance, to get it back."

When drivers are stopped by police the vehicle details are checked on the Police National Computer and if this shows the vehicle is uninsured or the driver is unlicensed the vehicle is seized and impounded.

The owner can then choose to sign away ownership to the police or return to a police station with valid insurance and a driving licence and pay £105 seizure charge and a storage charge of £12 per day in cash to reclaim their car within 14 days.

If they do not the vehicle is either scrapped or sold at auction. Fixed penalty notices which cost £200 and carry six penalty points can also be issued by roads policing officers for having no insurance.