§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage the DVLA to prosecute drivers who are found to have no tax disc on their cars; and if he will make a statement. [109368]
§ Mr. HillWhere vehicles are used or kept unlicensed on the public road, the detection is carried out by police and traffic wardens, who pass offence reports to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for enforcement action.
Last year, DVLA took successful action against 475,000 evaders, bringing in £57.9 million in fines and penalties from out of court settlements or prosecution. A further 125,000 evaders or potential evaders relicensed their vehicles as a direct result of this enforcement activity, bringing in a further £15 million which would not otherwise have been paid. There are indications that for the first time the level of VED evasion is starting to fall.
We have significantly increased the number of joint DVLA/police campaigns against VED evaders. In addition the scheme to wheelclamp and impound unlicensed vehicles is now operating nationwide. A new pilot scheme to use automated number plate readers to detect and deter VED evaders will start this summer.