Tayside Police have launched a 72-hour crackdown against unlicensed and uninsured driving.
With the latest estimates suggesting there are approximately 1.2 million uninsured drivers in the United Kingdom, the police want to work with the public to identify vehicles which are being used illegally.
Using a vehicle on the public roads without insurance is estimated to cost law-abiding motorists an extra £30 per year in premiums.
Since June 2006, Tayside has seized more than 4,000 vehicles of uninsured or unlicensed drivers, with 1,480 of those vehicles being subsequently crushed.
Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman, head of road policing, said: ”These campaigns are essentially about providing education and enforcement in respect of road safety.
”They provide an opportunity to remind drivers throughout the force area they are risking having their vehicle seized and subsequently crushed if they are caught driving any type of vehicle without a licence or insurance.
”Tayside Police has been using these powers for six years now and they have proved an invaluable tool in removing vehicles from our communities which are a potential danger to us all.
”Without these powers, I have no doubt some of these vehicles would still be on our roads today.
”Generally, if vehicles are being used without a driving licence, insurance or an MOT, they are more than likely not maintained in a fully roadworthy condition.
”Vehicles in a poor state of repair present a significant risk to other road users and seizing them removes immediate risk.”
The maximum fines are £5,000 for no insurance and £1,000 for no licence and the automatic endorsement of an offender’s licence with three to eight penalty points.
The court can also order the immediate disqualification of the offender.
Driving without insurance will result in the driver being issued with a £200 endorsable conditional offer of fixed penalty and six points on their licence.
Driving without a licence will result in a £60 endorsable conditional offer of fixed penalty and three penalty points on their licence.
Any vehicle seized under these powers will only be released on payment of the full recovery and storage costs, which is currently £150 recovery plus £20 per day storage fee.
Anyone who has information regarding an uninsured or unlicensed driver is asked to contact Tayside Police, or pass the information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.