Police powers boosted to seize foreign untaxed vehicles

TWENTY-eight foreign vehicles have been removed from the county’s roads in a week for failing to comply with new road rules in the region.

South Yorkshire Police applied to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for devolved powers to seize any foreign registered vehicle that has been in the country over the six-month grace period and is untaxed.

Chief Inspector Glen Suttenwood said: “A foreign registered vehicle is given six months from entry into the UK before it needs to be registered, taxed and insured as with all UK vehicles.

“Once this period has lapsed and if the car remains unregistered with the DVLA, therefore untaxed, the devolved powers now allow Road Policing Officers to seize the vehicle at the roadside.

“We already seize UK vehicles if they are untaxed or uninsured, and these devolved powers will greatly assist in removing illegally driven vehicles from our roads.”

Of the 28 vehicles, 11 were seized from Rotherham and Sheffield, and six from Doncaster.

The owner of a foreign registered vehicle is not entitled to the six month grace period should they become a UK resident within that period.

The vehicle must be registered at the same time they become a resident, regardless as to when the vehicle entered the county.

There are very limited exemptions to have an unregistered foreign vehicle on the road over the six month period.

Some exemptions include the owner of the vehicle being in the UK for a set study or work period, of which documentation must be produced at the roadside when stopped supporting this, or the vehicle is being used in a commercial capacity.

Chief Insp Suttenwood added: “Unregistered, untaxed and uninsured vehicles are not only a menace and frustration to all the law-abiding motorists, but also a serious danger and can pose significant risks to others on the road.

“We are determined to keep our roads safe and we will always take action and use all the powers that are available to us to ensure anyone who chooses to break the law is appropriately dealt with.”

For further information regarding the law on vehicles in the UK visit www.gov.uk/browse/driving