8:14am Wednesday 10th October 2007
By Alex Hayes
UNINSURED drivers in Ealing now run the risk of having their car impounded and crushed under new powers being piloted by police.
As of this month, police have the power to seize vehicles they stop if they are being driven without insurance or a driving licence under a scheme known as operation reclaim.
The cars are then impounded, giving the driver 14 days to produce an insurance certificate or valid driving licence or face their vehicle being destroyed.
On top of this they will either be given a penalty notice, which is a £200 fine and six points for driving without insurance and £60 and three points for driving not in accordance with a licence, or a court summons.
On the first day of the new rules three vehicles were impounded, two for having no insurance and one for a licence violation.
Superintendant Ian Jenkins, of Ealing police, said: "This scheme will further enhance road safety by taking unlicensed drivers and un-roadworthy vehicles off the streets."
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