29 March 2000

GAME OVER FOR MOTOR TAX EVADERS

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency for Northern Ireland, DVLNI, has launched a tough new campaign to clamp down on motor tax evaders, who are costing the Treasury an estimated £12 million in lost revenue every year.

Motorists in Northern Ireland are almost three times more likely to break the law by not taxing their vehicles than their counterparts in the rest of the UK. A recently published national survey revealed that an estimated 10% (70,200) of cars, vans and goods vehicles here are untaxed at any one time. This compares to an average rate of evasion of 3.4% in England, Scotland and Wales.

Aileen Gault, Director of Vehicle Licensing, said: "Our research shows that some people think not paying their tax is a bit of a game and that they are unlikely to get caught. We want to remind everyone that the law requires that vehicles must be licensed - that is taxed - before they can be kept or used on a public road."

Mrs Gault went on to highlight what action will be taken against people whose untaxed vehicles are detected. " Your car could be clamped, with all the inconvenience that can cause, as well as having to pay a declamp fee, or release fee if we take it to the pound. If you get a ticket, you will be offered an out of court settlement, but if you choose not to pay this then we will take you to court - this is a criminal offence."

DVLNI works closely with the police, traffic wardens, DOE's Transport Licensing and Enforcement Branch and its own wheelclamping agents, Sureway, to increase the rate of detection. Almost 15,000 people were prosecuted or had action taken against them by DVLNI for not paying their vehicle excise duty in 1998-99. £1.82 million was collected in penalties, fines, back duty and court costs. Over 1300 motorists have had their cars clamped since wheelclamping was introduced in 1998. So the message is "Game over for motor tax evaders".

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland, DVLNI, is the government agency responsible for collecting and enforcing payment of vehicle excise duty (motor tax). DVLNI is an agency within the Department of the Environment.

2. Under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 vehicle excise duty must be paid in respect of every mechanically propelled vehicle which is used or kept on a public road in the UK.

3. The Government Statistical Service published a report on 24 February 2000 into vehicle excise duty evasion in the UK. The rate of evasion in Northern Ireland in 1999 is estimated at 10%, compared to 3.4% in Great Britain. The revenue loss in NI is expected to be £11.9 million for cars, vans and goods vehicles in 1999-2000.

4. Wheelclamping is a UK-wide initiative to fight motor tax evasion. When a vehicle is clamped, a declamp fee of £68 must be paid and a surety of £100 paid against production of a tax disc. If a valid tax disc is produced within 14 days, the surety is refunded. If a vehicle is not claimed within 24 hours it is removed to the vehicle pound. Then, in addition to the £100 surety, a release fee of £135 plus £12 per day becomes payable.

5. For information on payment of vehicle excise duty, telephone DVLNI's vehicle enquiry number: 028 7034 1461.