A dawn raid has resulted in untaxed vehicles being removed from a village’s streets.
South Kesteven District Council co-ordinated the operation in the Chapel Hill and High Street area of Ropsley near Grantham, that also involved the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Lincolnshire Police.
SKDC set the wheels in motion following complaints from local residents over vehicles that were untaxed, unroadworthy, causing an obstruction and prevented them parking themselves.
There were also reports the presence of the vehicles attracted anti-social behaviour, which is the responsibility of the police and the council to address.
SKDC’s Cabinet Member with oversight of anti-social behaviour issues, Cllr Virginia Moran said: “We will always seek to act where anti-social behaviour impacts our residents.
“This operation in Ropsley was a prime example of effective partnership working.”
The raid was carried out at around 6am on a weekday and resulted in two untaxed cars that had been left parked on the street being seized by the DVLA and removed.
Checks are being made by the DVLA as to the registered keepers of the vehicles, which had not been abandoned or declared SORN.
The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 and Vehicle Excise Duty (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997 apply to untaxed vehicles left at the roadside.
Penalties include an out of court settlement letter being issued to a registered keeper. This results in a payment of £30 plus one and a half times the outstanding vehicle tax.
If settlement is not made, it then becomes a criminal offence and the case may be pursued through the magistrates’ court. The penalty is then either £1,000 or five times the amount of tax chargeable, whichever is greater.