More than 20 uninsured vehicles seized in Thurrock and Basildon

A total of 24 uninsured vehicles were seized and 194 drivers fined for not having an MOT at a series of stop checks in Thurrock and Basildon.



Photo: A transporter is used to take away some of the vehicles seized at Thurrock for having no insurance.

Checks were carried out in Thurrock on Monday, July 16 and Basildon on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 to target criminals and motoring crimes.

Essex Police’s Casualty Reduction Manager Adam Pipe said: "There is absolutely no excuse for driving a vehicle that is not insured or is potentially dangerous because it has no valid MOT.

"We have seen a steady increase across the county in the number of vehicles being stopped for having no insurance or no MOT and our road policing operations will continue to ensure that we drive home the message that these crimes will not be tolerated.

"These are serious offences because an uninsured vehicle means that if it causes a crash the driver could face massive costs for repairs or compensation to any injured passenger and the other parties involved have difficulties with insurance claims and could ultimately pay higher insurance policy charges.

"An uninsured driver would receive six penalty points, a £200 on-the-spot fine and will have the vehicle seized until insurance is provided.

"If a vehicles doesn’t have a valid MOT if could be a potential death trap and put the lives of innocent drivers or pedestrians at risk. Drivers without an MOT will get a £60 fine and repeat offenders will receive tougher penalties.”

In Thurrock police stopped 102 cars with no MOT and seized 15 uninsured vehicles.

Five people were arrested. They were:

• A 53-year-old man from Grays who was stopped for driving while disqualified. He was later charged with the offence and bailed to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on August 2, 2012.
  
• A 40-year-old man from Basildon who was stopped on suspicious of driving while disqualified. He was later bailed until September 3, 2012 pending further enquiries.
  
• Two men and a boy who were arrested after a vehicle failed to stop at a police check site at Corringham. They were arrested on suspicion of failing to stop for police and on suspicion of three burglaries at Corringham. A 22-year-old man from Grays and a boy aged 15 also from Grays were later bailed until August 31, 2012 pending further enquiries. A 21-year-old man from Grays was later released without charge.

In Basildon officers stopped 92 vehicles without MoTs and seized nine vehicles for having no insurance.