Car confiscated for Speeding
Discussion
Deserved or dangerous precedent? should Police have this power?
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=156403&command=displayContent&sourceNode=156151&home=yes&contentPK=12998235&localNewsNodeId=156133
ABUSE IT - YOU LOSE IT
10:30 - 12 August 2005
Drivers who break the law on Lincolnshire's roads could have their cars seized by police.
People who speed, tailgate or race their vehicles may have to fork out £105 to get them back.
The warning comes after officers impounded the car of a driver caught doing 50mph in a 30mph speed limit.
Officers caught him speeding before. But this time, using powers under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, they were able to confiscate his Citroen Saxo.
The car is believed to be the first one to be seized in the county since the powers came into effect in 2003.
The owner now faces paying a release fee of £105 plus a £12 a day storage fee.
He could also face charges of driving without due care and attention and speeding.
Between April 2003 and March 2004, around 61,000 drivers were flashed by the county's 19 speed cameras, which rotate around 56 roadside boxes.
Of these, 31,621 people paid a fine or ended up in court.
PC James Bateman, of Lincolnshire Police, said the seizure of the car in Grantham sends a clear message that speeding and other such anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.
"The vehicle was seen driving in a dangerous manner by exceeding the speed limit," said PC Bateman.
"When the vehicle was stopped and the driver questioned he stated that he was not paying attention to the speedometer or how fast he was going.
"As the vehicle had already been issued with a Section 59 warning, the driver was informed that his vehicle was to be seized."
Drivers or owners have 21 days in which to claim their vehicles before they are crushed.
Under the legislation vehicle owners or drivers are first issued with warning notices.
If they are involved in further anti-social behaviour within a year the police have the power to seize their vehicle.
The same applies if they are found acting in a similar way in a different vehicle.
So far this year 33 people have died on Lincolnshire's roads. Last year the total figure was 77.
Residents of Ellesmere Avenue, in Lincoln, claim boy racers regularly use their stretch of road as a racetrack.
The road is at the point where Monks Road joins Allenby Road.
In recent months there have been several accidents late at night.
Residents said today they believe the threat of having vehicles seized could prove to be a strong deterrent.
Care worker Angela Keningale (60) said she didn't think it would be long before someone was killed near her home.
"Fortunately, to my knowledge, there has not been a fatality but I think it is only a matter of time," she said.
"Threatening to seize these cars might be a deterrent. I don't know how else you're going to stop them."
Housewife Paula Hennell (33), who also lives in Ellesmere Avenue, said that she hopes speeding motorists will take notice of the powers available to the police.
"I don't think half of them know that the speed limit is 30mph," she said.
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=156403&command=displayContent&sourceNode=156151&home=yes&contentPK=12998235&localNewsNodeId=156133
ABUSE IT - YOU LOSE IT
10:30 - 12 August 2005
Drivers who break the law on Lincolnshire's roads could have their cars seized by police.
People who speed, tailgate or race their vehicles may have to fork out £105 to get them back.
The warning comes after officers impounded the car of a driver caught doing 50mph in a 30mph speed limit.
Officers caught him speeding before. But this time, using powers under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, they were able to confiscate his Citroen Saxo.
The car is believed to be the first one to be seized in the county since the powers came into effect in 2003.
The owner now faces paying a release fee of £105 plus a £12 a day storage fee.
He could also face charges of driving without due care and attention and speeding.
Between April 2003 and March 2004, around 61,000 drivers were flashed by the county's 19 speed cameras, which rotate around 56 roadside boxes.
Of these, 31,621 people paid a fine or ended up in court.
PC James Bateman, of Lincolnshire Police, said the seizure of the car in Grantham sends a clear message that speeding and other such anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.
"The vehicle was seen driving in a dangerous manner by exceeding the speed limit," said PC Bateman.
"When the vehicle was stopped and the driver questioned he stated that he was not paying attention to the speedometer or how fast he was going.
"As the vehicle had already been issued with a Section 59 warning, the driver was informed that his vehicle was to be seized."
Drivers or owners have 21 days in which to claim their vehicles before they are crushed.
Under the legislation vehicle owners or drivers are first issued with warning notices.
If they are involved in further anti-social behaviour within a year the police have the power to seize their vehicle.
The same applies if they are found acting in a similar way in a different vehicle.
So far this year 33 people have died on Lincolnshire's roads. Last year the total figure was 77.
Residents of Ellesmere Avenue, in Lincoln, claim boy racers regularly use their stretch of road as a racetrack.
The road is at the point where Monks Road joins Allenby Road.
In recent months there have been several accidents late at night.
Residents said today they believe the threat of having vehicles seized could prove to be a strong deterrent.
Care worker Angela Keningale (60) said she didn't think it would be long before someone was killed near her home.
"Fortunately, to my knowledge, there has not been a fatality but I think it is only a matter of time," she said.
"Threatening to seize these cars might be a deterrent. I don't know how else you're going to stop them."
Housewife Paula Hennell (33), who also lives in Ellesmere Avenue, said that she hopes speeding motorists will take notice of the powers available to the police.
"I don't think half of them know that the speed limit is 30mph," she said.
Big Fat F'er said:
Well deserved.
Maybe but who gets to decide? one mans minor speeding is anothers Dangerous Driving.
We all know that there are 'good' and 'bad' cops and even a 'good' cop can have a bad day.
If the Police are to act as Police, Judge, Jury and executioner, do you not find this, at least, a little worrying?
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