Over 400 motorists have been caught without a licence, insurance or driving an unsafe vehicle during a three-day police crackdown.
Some of the drivers caught between Tuesday and Thursday last week have had their vehicles seized, with the possibility that they are crushed.
Nearly 200 drivers were caught without a licence or insurance and further 227 were dealt with for construction and use offences.
One driver in Perthshire had a defective handbrake, exhaust and different sized tyres and wheels fitted to the same axle.
A tractor driver was stopped on the A9 near Berriedale for carrying an unsecured load and was subsequently found to have several tyre defects on the tractor and trailer.
A man who took a vehicle without the owner’s consent was stopped in Ayr due to his manner of driving. He was arrested and reported to the court for numerous offences including careless driving, driving with no insurance and defective tyres.
Inspector Ewan Innes, head of Aberdeenshire and Moray division road policing unit, said: “This initiative has highlighted that some drivers still consider it is acceptable to use their vehicles on a road without insurance or a driving licence. The potential implications for other road users can be devastating.
“An insurance policy is there to assist members of the public when collisions happen. Many drivers think that they can take the risk and will not crash. Experience shows otherwise and, unfortunately, they can happen at any time.
“It is bad enough if there is only damage to vehicles. They can be repaired or replaced. However, if, as a result, people suffer life-changing injuries, the compensation from an insurance policy will be invaluable in providing some solace for their suffering. Driving without a licence is also likely to invalidate any insurance policy.
“Over the course of this three-day initiative, we have used the powers within section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to remove vehicles from the roads. These owners have been deprived of the use of their vehicles and will have to pay a significant amount of money to have them returned, or they will be disposed of.
“Drivers who do not properly maintain their vehicles may be totally unaware of any developing, potentially serious defects. It is vital that vehicles are checked regularly and not just yearly if an MOT is required.
Mr Innes added: “All of the drivers detected have been charged with road traffic offences and will now have to deal with the financial penalties imposed upon them and the points endorsed on their licences.
“People who drive without a licence or insurance or who fail to properly maintain their vehicles pose a real danger to us all. They are in your community and I would urge you to report them.”