Untaxed vehicles will be seized by officers under Devolved Powers from DVLA

From September 24, Wiltshire police officers will be able to seize untaxed vehicles from the county’s roads as a result of taking ‘Devolved Powers’ from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

According to the latest figures available from the Department for Transport (2017), some 1.8 per cent of all licensed vehicles in use are untaxed. This figure rises to 5.8 per cent of all motorcycles on the road.

It is estimated that there are approximately 650,000 licensed vehicles across Wiltshire, which translates to some 11,700 untaxed vehicles in use across the county.

DfT figures also indicate that since the traditional tax disc was abolished back in 2014, there has been a significant rise in the number of untaxed vehicles (a 300 per cent increase across the years 2013 to 2017). 

Sergeant Simon Drewett, Head of the Road Safety Unit, said:  “In reality, Devolved Powers is but an extension to the armoury that officers already have available to them to remove unlawful vehicles from our roads. Back in 2005, I brought the ability to seize for No Licence/No Insurance to the Force and to date, some 25,000 vehicles have been recovered by Officers from across our county. Around 50% of these have been crushed, many actively being used in crime at the point of seizure”.  

“Devolved Powers is primarily about removing both unlawful vehicles and those used in crime. It has long been known that vehicles driven without the correct documentation are many times more likely to be involved in both fatal and serious collisions; driven in either a careless manner or in poor condition and also by those who choose to flout legislation such as Drink Drive.

“Whilst I am acutely conscious of the current financial climate, it is the law that vehicles must carry the correct documentation before use. A small minority appear to make a conscious decision to drive without (in the hope that they will go unstopped), whilst those engaged in crime continue to show little or no regard for their impact upon others.

“It is apparent from many of the comments left by fellow motorists as a follow up to the various operations that we run that there is little sympathy with those who drive without tax.

“Our message is straightforward – Tax it, Insure it, or Lose It.”

Sergeant Drewett is urging drivers to check if their vehicle is taxed (and also has a current MOT) by visiting https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson said: “This may seem low level compared to other types of crime that the police deal with, but we’re told time and time again that it’s a frustration for the communities where these cars are parked.

“By picking up on these sorts of crimes the police are able to better prevent and detect further criminality. If you don’t adhere to the laws of the road with a roadworthy vehicle, carrying insurance and tax then you simply should not be driving one.”

DVLA Head of Enforcement Tim Burton said: “It is right that action is taken against those who don’t tax their vehicles and then drive otherwise it wouldn’t be fair on those who do the right thing. We are delighted that Wiltshire Police are taking on these additional powers.

“DVLA also operates a range of measures to make vehicle tax easy to pay and hard to avoid, including online vehicle taxing and Direct Debit. It also continues to send reminder letters to vehicle keepers, which is why it is so important the notify DVLA of a change of address or keeper."