Police put brakes on insurance cheats as 3000 drivers caught

Published on Friday 6 June 2008 10:46

MORE than 3000 motorists in the Lothians were caught driving without insurance last year as police cracked down on a new scam.

Fraudsters have begun signing up to instalment plans with insurance companies before defaulting on their monthly payments.

The documents sent to them stated that they were covered for a full year even if they failed to pay.

But police have been working closely with the Motor Insurance Bureau to catch people trying to pass off the documents as valid.

Computer checks can immediately identify anyone who has defaulted and forfeited their cover.

The latest figures also showed that 1178 people were reported for driving without a licence last year in the force area.

Police chiefs said today they were determined to catch these illegal drivers, who can face having their vehicles seized and scrapped.

Around two-thirds of the uninsured cars were seized by officers, while 40 per cent were ultimately scrapped when the owners fail to pay the 105 removal fee and 12 daily storage charge.

Superintendent Alan Duncan, from the force's road policing unit, said: "There are many different factors behind drivers not being insured. Some will simply take the chance of not being caught, others may be driving someone else's car without being covered for it.

"We've noticed uninsured drivers are signing up to instalment plans then not paying the monthly premium. But we now have a system in place to carry out computer checks.

"Driving without insurance is one of the most serious road traffic offences because of the impact that it has on innocent parties if there's a collision.

"That can be true with a minor accident, and hugely so with regards to compensation if there's an injury or death."

Around three drivers a day are caught without a licence in the Lothians, with around the same number caught driving without an MOT. Another 589 motorists were reported last year for failing to report an accident to police.

Supt Duncan said: "Unlicensed drivers are spread between those who never passed their test, underage drivers and those who are disqualified and flout their ban. We average around one-and-a-half cases a day of people failing to report accidents.

"They might be involved in minor accidents and think they can get away with it but these individuals are often traced by their number plates."

Motorists caught without a driving licence, valid insurance or tax disc have had their vehicles seized since June 2006.

Lothian and Borders Police seize around 200 vehicles each month under the laws.