[A] multi-agency task force this week carried out an untaxed vehicle purge in Penrith and surrounding villages in a bid to rid the area’s roads of vehicles being driven illegally.
The operation saw Eden District Council (EDC), Cumbria Police and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Association (DVLA) join forces to act on tip-offs from frustrated residents to target untaxed vehicles.
The action saw four vehicles removed, nine vehicles fitted with clamps and one enforcement notice given for no tax.
“We receive regular complaints of abandoned vehicles from the public, however most of the time those vehicles are not abandoned, but simply untaxed,” said an EDC Community Warden as the task force targeted cars in the Scaws area of Penrith. “We’re here to assist the DVLA to get cars off the road that are parked on the highway illegally. The vast majority of people pay for tax, insurance and MOTs, so it’s only fair that action is taken against those who do not.”
Throughout the day of activity, the DVLA’s van, fitted with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, scoured various parts of the town identifying untaxed and uninsured vehicles.
They found illegally-parked cars and vans on Brentfield Way, Mill Street, Inglewood Road, Raiselands Croft, Wetheriggs Rise, Gilwilly industrial estate, Greystoke Road and Alexandra Road.
Inspector Gaynor Taylor of Cumbria Police said: “This operation shows clearly that there are many people in the town and area that are failing to tax their vehicles. Some motorists think that because they don’t have to display a tax disc anymore, they won’t be found out.”
“This is not the case and enforcement will be taken against those failing to tax, insure or MOT their vehicles – if you do not have the relevant lawful documents, you will be caught.”
