24 January 2003
ROAD TAX DODGERS TO BE TARGETED IN MAJOR CLAMPDOWN
Three times as many people avoid paying motor tax in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the UK. In fact, one in ten people here evade motor tax with a loss of £12 million - enough to renovate two schools, or re-stock new drugs for specialist patient care.
DOE’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency (DVLNI) and PSNI have developed a rolling programme of enforcement exercises to clamp down against road tax dodgers.
Speaking after the latest exercise in the Fermanagh and Omagh areas Ann McCabe of DVLNI said: "We have run an extensive radio, television, cinema and press advertising campaign over the last year to advise motorists of the consequences of not relicensing their vehicles. It is disappointing that nearly 10% of motorists are still choosing to ignore the warnings and risk having their vehicles clamped. Nor does it make economic sense. It costs at least £200 to get a vehicle released from clamping yet a years road tax for a car varies from £60 - £160.
" A key role of DVLNI is to promote road safety and we are concerned that many unlicensed vehicles are also uninsured or do not have a vehicle test certificate.
" We have had considerable support from the honest motorists who are also keen to see these hard-core evaders put off the road.
" In a combined effort to recover the millions of pounds lost every year through VED evasion, the police and the wheelclamping teams will be intensifying their
enforcement activities this year, and the police will be on the look out for motorists committing other road safety and motoring offences."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- A roadside survey carried out in August 1999 revealed that the level of VED evasion in Northern Ireland is around 10%, equating to a revenue loss of £12m.
- Clampdown checks are a valuable addition to the day-to-day enforcement action of the police, traffic wardens and DVTA against road tax dodgers. They also make a significant contribution to road safety. About a third of the reports arising from the campaigns involve other offences – including no seat belt, no MOT certificate, no insurance and defective tyres. During 2000/01, in Northern Ireland over 15,400 cases of VED evasion were successfully completed resulting in the recovery of £1.8 million.
- Not having a current licence disc is illegal and could be expensive. Offenders face a fine of up to £1,000 for a private car or motorcycle and up to £23,000 for a heavy goods vehicle. In addition to paying a fine, convicted offenders will have to pay back duty from the date the vehicle was last licensed, together with costs.
- In Northern Ireland, 80% of vehicles wheelclamped are reclaimed and all fees paid compared to around 40% in GB.
- For further media information please contact Paddy Murphy, DOE Press Office Tel 028 9054 0014.
Click here to print this press release.
