The Council has powers to seize a vehicle, trailer or mobile plant and their contents if it's believed it is being, has been or will be used to commit a waste crime such as fly-tipping. Vehicles and their contents can be seized under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 or the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
A vehicle can be seized:
- If it is used in fly-tipping
- If it is driven by somebody who is not registered as a waste carrier
- If it is used to transfer waste to somebody who is not registered as the waste carrier
- If it is being used at a site that is breaking the rules of an environmental permit
When a vehicle is seized, we are required to put details of the seizure on a public notice. This will be displayed on the first working day after the seizure has taken place and will be displayed for at least 15 days afterwards on our website or in a local newspaper. The police and the registered keeper will be notified in writing.
To claim a seized vehicle you must be the legal owner of the vehicle and be able to provide the following documents to prove this:
- V5C Vehicle registration document in your name with your correct address and;
- Current certificate of motor insurance in your name with your correct address.
If we require further proof of legal ownership we would notify you within one working day. Any further proof must be received within two working days from receipt of the request. We will then notify you of a decision within three working days.
Where a vehicle has been claimed the owner will have 10 working days to collect the vehicle, unless we need to keep the vehicle for further investigation or are prosecuting the owner. If a claimed vehicle is to be released and is not collected within 10 working days it can be sold or destroyed. If a vehicle is not claimed within 15 working days, it will be sold or destroyed.