Cheshire Police target uninsured drivers

 

Cheshire Police are warning that if you drive a car without insurance, you risk a heavy fine and even losing your car − permanently.

As of September 16, 102 cars have been seized by Cheshire officers as part of a month-long operation to target uninsured drivers.

And those cars all face being crushed and taken off the roads.

Research shows there could be as many as 20,000 people driving on Cheshire′s roads without any insurance.

This means 20,000 people who causing problems for law-abiding citizens every day. If you as a fully insured driver are involved in a collision with an uninsured one, you could end up paying the price.

And even if that doesn′t happen, uninsured drivers are causing you headaches − it is their presence on the roads that drivers your insurance bill up every year.

Chief Inspector Richard Reeves said: "Throughout September officers across Cheshire are focussing on making sure these people are caught and dealt with appropriately in a bid to get the message home that driving without insurance is not and will not be accepted.

"The increasing cost of insurance premiums is affected by the number of claims made every year from people who have been involved in collisions with uninsured drivers."

The cost of being caught has also increased, though − the fixed penalty fine recently went up by £100 to £300. What′s more, seized vehicles not reclaimed by their owners within 14 days can be crushed or sold at auction, with any proceeds re-invested in frontline policing.

Richard added: "Being involved in a road traffic collision is stressful enough but to then learn that the other driver is not insured just adds further upset and complications to the whole process. I know it is a crime that most law abiding citizens are concerned about and I would encourage anyone who suspects a person is driving without insurance to contact police and we will use the powers we have to make sure they are dealt with appropriately."

If you know of someone who is committing insurance fraud, you can contact the Insurance Fraud Bureau to report them by telephone on 0800 422 0421, or online at www.insurancefraudbureau.org/report. You can also contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

The penalties for driving without insurance:

• Vehicle seized by police

• £300 fixed penalty

• £150 plus £20/day to recover the vehicle

• Six penalty points and/or disqualification

• PLUS proof of insurance before the vehicle can be returned

• Seized vehicles which are not claimed within 14 days can be sold or crushed

A video is now available on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt5Za1bmTM8&feature=share&list=UUp-pEMRqM2y4NAdz-qtdoGw