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Uninsured drivers face a crushing blow

Northumbria Police

9 December 2008


An operation to target law-breaking motorists driving without insurance is underway in Northumberland.
Operation Magnitude uses an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system  to target illegal cars.
The hi-tech system scans number plates and matches them against a database to identify vehicles of interest and get them intercepted by an officer on the ground.
Chief Inspector Simon Packham said: "This intelligence-led operation is all about denying criminals use of the roads.
"In the first day four cars were seized from their owners at the roadside in Bedlington, Blyth, Cramlington and Ashington.
"Uninsured cars are used by criminals to commit crime. By taking them off the roads we can both cut crime and improve the safety of other road users."
He added: "We're targeting people who have little regard for the law and whose actions cost law abiding motorists both time and money."
Owners of seized vehicles have seven working days to produce valid documents and pay the uplift fee of £150 and £20 per day storage costs. If they fail to pay up their vehicle will be crushed.