Police are warning car owners to ‘insure it or lose it’ as police continue to tackle uninsured vehicles on our roads.
As national restrictions begin to ease police are anticipating more motors to be traveling across the region in the coming months.
In preparation, Officers have already launched Operation Tutelage, alongside the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB), to trace those who are breaking the law and order them to get insured.
If police receive information via WMP systems that a vehicle doesn’t appear to be insured police are sending a letter to the registered keeper, advising them to do so or risk having it seized.
The approach has been successfully used in ensuring people insure their vehicles in other police forces areas around the country. Around two-thirds have insured their motors after being notified.
Since launching Operation Tutelage as a four-month pilot here in February Police have already sent out more than 3,500 notices.
Driving without insurance is not only illegal, but unfair on those who do insure, and police won’t hesitate to seize vehicles if people ignore the warning.
WMO have already seized just over 1,900 vehicles in the last six months; while punishments can also include penalty points and fines.
Superintendent Richard Agar, from West Midlands Road Policing, said: “There is not only a legal but moral responsibility to ensure your vehicle is insured.
“We know the last 12 months have been like nothing we’ve experienced before but the pandemic is no excuse for breaking the law.
“We’re following a national approach, in partnership with the MIB, and reminding people of their responsibilities. There could be a genuine discrepancy for a vehicle not showing as insured.
“But we will seize cars and pursue further action against those who deliberately avoid insuring their vehicles and our warning.”