Motorists tax disc warning (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Motorists tax disc warning

CARS left untaxed or abandoned on roadsides in west Wiltshire will be targeted in a new blitz.

West Wiltshire District Council, Wiltshire Police, West Wiltshire Housing Society and the DVLA have joined forces for this latest crackdown on abandoned vehicles, sparked by a change in the law on road tax.

Car owners failing to display valid tax discs face having their vehicles towed away if they repeatedly fail to heed warnings.

Warning stickers will be placed on untaxed vehicles and notices sent to drivers parked on private land. DVLA will be informed of registration details so action can be taken.

Pippa McVeigh, district council community safety officer, said: "Hundreds of abandoned vehicles are reported to us every year, and this is a major concern for our communities.

"What we find is that not all of these vehicles are actually abandoned, as many are untaxed but still being driven about.

"The project is part about educating owners about the new rules and ensuring they either get tax or complete a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declaration.

"However, where vehicles have been abandoned, we will be working with the housing society and police to identify them and get them removed."