'Insure your car or lose it' warning

From the archive, first published Monday 23rd Apr 2007.

DRIVERS are being warned to insure their cars or face losing them after traffic cops snared more than 100 motorists driving while uninsured in a month.

During March alone officers from the Laindon road policing unit stopped 111 motorists across Basildon and Thurrock for driving with no insurance.

Under new laws police can seize uninsured vehicles at the roadside and, if the owner's do not produce proof of insurance within 14 days, the car can be crushed.

Insp Alan Jelley said: "Whether motorists get the car insured or not, once it has been seized they will still be prosecuted for having no insurance when stopped and this offence attracts a fine and penalty points. "Some people might see the power for police to seize a car at the roadside as draconian, but if an uninsured vehicle injures someone then it makes it very difficult for the injured person to claim against the offending driver.

"All drivers who pay the premium for their annual motor insurance will, I am sure, be pleased to know the police are dealing positively with uninsured motorists."

During March, officers from Laindon road policing unit also prosecuted 154 motorists for speeding, stopped 36 for driving while using their mobile phones and caught 224 drivers not wearing their seatbelts.