Foreign speeders' loophole

October 08, 2007

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FOREIGN drivers got away with more than 1,000 speeding offences in Greater Manchester last year because their vehicles are untraceable.

Cars with foreign plates were responsible for 1,052 speeding offences but the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has no records for the vehicles.

Figures obtained by the Manchester Evening News also reveal that the problem is increasing, with one in every 100 speeders now thought to be foreign-registered drivers.

Bosses at Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership say the speeders are mostly people who have recently moved to Britain or lorry drivers from abroad.

People who move to Britain are allowed 12 months before they must register vehicles with the DVLA.

To combat the problem, police are now loading the numbers of speeding cars with foreign plates on to their Automatic Number Plate Recognition system.

The system will allow police to stop drivers who have previously avoided fines.

Serial speeders could be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, although it’s understood there are no foreign-registered vehicles repeatedly breaking the law in Greater Manchester.

Powers could also be introduced next year which would mean foreign drivers caught breaking the law would be obliged to pay a ‘deposit’ at the roadside. Some UK British drivers have already fallen foul of the system which is being introduced on the continent.

National problem

Partnership spokesman Mike Downes said: This is a national problem and as such Greater Manchester Police is working closely with other forces to identify solutions which are fair to all.”

The increase in foreign-registered speeders comes at a time when the total number of speeding offences in Greater Manchester fell by 7,000 last year to 100,780.

Brigitte Chaudhry, spokeswoman for RoadPeace, a national charity for road crash victims, said: “It’s wrong that these people escape fines.

Everybody who enters the country with a car should have to give their address.”

What do you think? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Mwmbwls, Southport (08/10/2007 at 09:02)

Q few questions the MEN might like to put:
What is the position concerning insurance coverage of cars with foreign numberplates. Are they obliged to have third party insurance? Similarly what is the position regarding MOT certificates? Are drivers of foreign plated cars informed of the rules as they bring there vehicles into the country? Does VOSA perform road worthiness checks with regard to foreign cars as they do for trucks? Is VOSA adequately resourced to carry out this task?

The Bobelesque, In The Rye (08/10/2007 at 09:06)

How many British people hire a car on holiday, attract a speeding fine or parking fine and ignore it?

Joey, Ashton under Lyne, (08/10/2007 at 09:22)

Quote: "People who move to Britain are allowed 12 months before they must register vehicles with the DVLA."

However if they go on a days booze cruise it gives them another 12 months of law breaking opertunities - also free tax and insurance as an added bonus.

alvinlwh (08/10/2007 at 09:29)

If I am untraceable in my UK car in another country, I too will break the speed limit!

Joey, Ashton under Lyne, (08/10/2007 at 09:50)

Alvin,

"If I am untraceable in my UK car in another country, I too will break the speed limit!"

Tis no use when they pull you over on the side of the road and ask you to open your wallet.

alvinlwh (08/10/2007 at 10:09)

Joey,

Very true, that is what the French police do I believe. I believe that UK is the only country that let criminals get away easily.

mauger 9, HANNOVER GERMANY (08/10/2007 at 10:09)

A German Mot is lot more complex than an English one.That's a fact.I was cautioned 2 years ago.Because my first aid box was 3 Months out of date.The registration plates have stamps on them back and front.1 for proof of insurance.The other to show that the car has passed it's Mot.and Exhaust Test.

mauger 9, HANNOVER GERMANY (08/10/2007 at 10:13)

I am fully Insured for all events of an accident.But can i expect the same from an English registerd vehicle.
Or do they still use Tax in post,or guiness labels instead.I've seen it all.

ace, manchester (08/10/2007 at 10:15)

Isnt this just the standard pratice in britain .the honest pay for the dishonest?I for one have had enough if nothing is done its time to vote for a party that will do something ...

BlueBoy1, bolton (08/10/2007 at 10:32)

Don't get me started on this one!! I was hit by a foreign driver and it took me nearly 9 months to get my vehicle repaired, the highways agency now carry a book with several different langueges in so that the drivers can read and identify what they have to do. When I go on holiday to America and hire a car I pay a fortune for insurance yet these foreigners just think that we are an easy target in this country, I know of cases where the social have paid for their cars and insurances - who's country is this???

The Bobelesque, In The Rye (08/10/2007 at 10:38)

Same old story - easy touch Britain. In you come, do what you want, claim what you fancy, don'r bother contributing to our society... Time for a change!

ace, manchester (08/10/2007 at 10:39)

BlueBoy1, bolton
The country is not geared up for us drivers its geared up for the lawbreakers and criminals.Its time to vote for a party that will do something i for one have had enough ,i see people struggling and having to pay for the garbage that come here to sponge

Macca (08/10/2007 at 10:51)

Every time u see a car with foreign number plates, check to see if it has a tax disc, i'll bet u a pound to a penny it hasn't got 1, and if it hasn't got a tax disc, u can guarantee it isn't insured and hasn't passed an M.O.T.
There seems to be 1 law for people who are born and work in this country, and next to no law for migrant workers and immigrants who are here to bleed the system.

BlueBoy1, bolton (08/10/2007 at 10:53)

ace, Manchester, I couldn't agree more, this is how we lost the empire in the first place - viva revolution my comrade;-)

Andy., Bury (08/10/2007 at 11:00)

Mauger, The Green Card scheme provides an international insurance standard across Europe. It's been in existence for 5 years and covers more than 40 countries. It was introduced to allow free movement across borders through evidence of insurance.

ace, manchester (08/10/2007 at 11:03)

Macca
Your words are so true we just roll over in britain and take it.But more and more people have had enough .

Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (08/10/2007 at 11:04)

Seems very lax that there is no check or registration of every foreign vehicle that comes into this country. Surely there must be forms to fill in when taking a vehicle abroad and that the records should be sent to a central data base. How can this government turn round and say that immigration is being monitored when vehicles can come in willy nilly with no apparent check. MOT's and insurance are not the problem here, just plain communication breakdown as usual.

ace, manchester (08/10/2007 at 11:34)

Andy., Bury
The problem with this system is we all have to use it? its only us britts who comply "As usual"

mylifeinthemafia (08/10/2007 at 11:36)

The Bob, for once we are in complete agreement.

David,North M/C (08/10/2007 at 11:46)

Foreigners appear to be above the law anyway, Im surprised the word "foreigners" isnt taboo.

Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (08/10/2007 at 11:54)

Bet Manchester council will find a way of tracing them if this congestion charge comes in.

Mike, Manchester (08/10/2007 at 11:59)

Birch!

joel,French blue (08/10/2007 at 12:17)

Macca, do you have slightest idea what a foreign tax or insure disc looks like?

Calamity (08/10/2007 at 12:33)

Typical DVLA, who only seem to target "soft targets." they fined me because I had lost my letter of confirmation from them over a scapped car! I have the ombudman fighting the case, but I had to pay £40, as they threatened to double this if not paid by a particular date! Easy money for them.

Peter (08/10/2007 at 12:53)

Just shows you the kind attitude these foreigners
have doesn't it?
They seem to be very good at making themselves untraceable.

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