Drivers lose cars in police crackdown (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Drivers lose cars in police crackdown

4:15pm Monday 15th March 2010

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A disqualified driver who stayed on the roads without a licence for 17 years was among 41 motorists who had their cars seized in a police crackdown.

The woman, who was in her 60s and had failed to renew her licence after being disqualified, was stopped by officers as part of a six-borough wide campaign on drivers who have no insurance.

A police spokesman said the seized cars include luxury Mercedes and BMWs and all face being scrapped or sold unless valid insurance documents are provided within one week.

Drivers who are found with no insurance and are not driving in accordance with their driving licence also face going to court.

A £150 fine to recover their vehicle from the car pound was also issued plus a fee of £20 a day - making the minimum recovery fee £170.

Police netted the drivers after setting up checkpoints in Stafford Road, Wallington; Bishopsford Road, St Helier; and Croydon Road, Beddington on March 8-10.

Sgt Bryan Gibson, of Sutton’s Safer Transport Team, said: “We want this operation to send out a strong message that we are cracking down on insurance and driving licence offences.”

Boroughs taking in Operation Reclaim, include Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth.

Officers are targeting main routes in each borough over a period of four weeks until the March 22.

The officers are supported by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, which is linked to the Police National Computer.

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