Owners of abandoned vehicles prosecuted
Wednesday, 23rd December 2009.
The council has successfully prosecuted seven cases of abandoning a motor vehicle in the six months since June.
In the most recent case, a woman was summoned to attend Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court but pleaded guilty by post to the offence of abandoning her vehicle, parked at the rear of her home in Bury.
During July the St Edmundsbury Council had made several attempts to contact her both in person and by post.
The vehicle had a notice placed on it and was later removed to a safe storage facility. It was not claimed and after 14 days was destroyed. A fixed penalty notice was then issued but remained unpaid.
The court issued a fine of £150, £15 victim surcharge and awarded the council costs of £500.
Although the trend is for fewer abandoned vehicles, the council investigated 324 reports of apparently abandoned vehicles during 2008/09, 113 of which were removed.
Once removed, the vehicle’s registered owner faces a recovery charge of £150 plus a storage charge of £20 per day. A fixed penalty notice of £200 is issued if the vehicle remains unclaimed. If this notice is not paid then the registered owner of the vehicle can be taken to court.
Cllr Peter Stevens, St Edmundsbury cabinet member for environment said: “There are a number of services available which means no one should have to abandon a vehicle.
"The council charges £45 for its collection service and there are many others widely advertised, some of which may be free or even pay for the vehicle. It is important to check that the service you choose is registered as a waste carrier and will be scrapping the vehicle at an approved location."
Anyone wishing to report an abandoned vehicle or fly tipping in the borough should contact the St Edmundsbury Council’s waste management service on 01284 757325.
In the most recent case, a woman was summoned to attend Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court but pleaded guilty by post to the offence of abandoning her vehicle, parked at the rear of her home in Bury.
During July the St Edmundsbury Council had made several attempts to contact her both in person and by post.
The vehicle had a notice placed on it and was later removed to a safe storage facility. It was not claimed and after 14 days was destroyed. A fixed penalty notice was then issued but remained unpaid.
The court issued a fine of £150, £15 victim surcharge and awarded the council costs of £500.
Although the trend is for fewer abandoned vehicles, the council investigated 324 reports of apparently abandoned vehicles during 2008/09, 113 of which were removed.
Once removed, the vehicle’s registered owner faces a recovery charge of £150 plus a storage charge of £20 per day. A fixed penalty notice of £200 is issued if the vehicle remains unclaimed. If this notice is not paid then the registered owner of the vehicle can be taken to court.
Cllr Peter Stevens, St Edmundsbury cabinet member for environment said: “There are a number of services available which means no one should have to abandon a vehicle.
"The council charges £45 for its collection service and there are many others widely advertised, some of which may be free or even pay for the vehicle. It is important to check that the service you choose is registered as a waste carrier and will be scrapping the vehicle at an approved location."
Anyone wishing to report an abandoned vehicle or fly tipping in the borough should contact the St Edmundsbury Council’s waste management service on 01284 757325.
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