The law? Section 59
Discussion
This is now a big concern and feel this government are making a complete arse of our country, it seems if you overtook 2 cars that were driving along at slow speeds and you went past they both contacted the local police the police are now able to seize your car just because you had looked to the other drivers to be dangerous. 🤔🤔 I what's happening is just wrong.
• Removal of the Warning System: Previously under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, officers had to issue a formal warning first and wait for a repeat offense within 12 months before they could confiscate a vehicle. That requirement is now completely removed.
• Immediate Seizure: Police can impound a vehicle on the spot if it is driven carelessly, inconsiderately, at excessive speeds, or in a manner that causes alarm, distress, or annoyance to the public.
• Targeted Behaviors: The strengthened powers aim to crack down on street racing, unauthorized car meets, dangerous oversteering ("donuts"), nuisance off-road biking, and excessive speeding in local communities.
• Reclaiming the Vehicle: Owners receive a seizure notice explaining how to pick up their impounded car. To get it back, you must prove legal ownership, show a valid driving license, and provide proof of proper insurance, alongside paying statutory recovery and storage fees. Most users on Reddit agree that vehicles are held in this manner rather than being immediately crushed or permanently destroyed.
Would you like to know more about how to appeal a vehicle seizure or the exact fees and documents required to recover a car from the police pound?
ks - the stupid US spelling gives it away!BURNIE said:
This is now a big concern and feel this government are making a complete arse of our country, it seems if you overtook 2 cars that were driving along at slow speeds and you went past they both contacted the local police the police are now able to seize your car just because you had looked to the other drivers to be dangerous. ?? I what's happening is just wrong.
Removal of the Warning System: Previously under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, officers had to issue a formal warning first and wait for a repeat offense within 12 months before they could confiscate a vehicle. That requirement is now completely removed.
Immediate Seizure: Police can impound a vehicle on the spot if it is driven carelessly, inconsiderately, at excessive speeds, or in a manner that causes alarm, distress, or annoyance to the public.
Targeted Behaviors: The strengthened powers aim to crack down on street racing, unauthorized car meets, dangerous oversteering ("donuts"), nuisance off-road biking, and excessive speeding in local communities.
Reclaiming the Vehicle: Owners receive a seizure notice explaining how to pick up their impounded car. To get it back, you must prove legal ownership, show a valid driving license, and provide proof of proper insurance, alongside paying statutory recovery and storage fees. Most users on Reddit agree that vehicles are held in this manner rather than being immediately crushed or permanently destroyed.
Would you like to know more about how to appeal a vehicle seizure or the exact fees and documents required to recover a car from the police pound?
Yes, please tell us moreRemoval of the Warning System: Previously under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, officers had to issue a formal warning first and wait for a repeat offense within 12 months before they could confiscate a vehicle. That requirement is now completely removed.
Immediate Seizure: Police can impound a vehicle on the spot if it is driven carelessly, inconsiderately, at excessive speeds, or in a manner that causes alarm, distress, or annoyance to the public.
Targeted Behaviors: The strengthened powers aim to crack down on street racing, unauthorized car meets, dangerous oversteering ("donuts"), nuisance off-road biking, and excessive speeding in local communities.
Reclaiming the Vehicle: Owners receive a seizure notice explaining how to pick up their impounded car. To get it back, you must prove legal ownership, show a valid driving license, and provide proof of proper insurance, alongside paying statutory recovery and storage fees. Most users on Reddit agree that vehicles are held in this manner rather than being immediately crushed or permanently destroyed.
Would you like to know more about how to appeal a vehicle seizure or the exact fees and documents required to recover a car from the police pound?
Mr Penguin said:
Presumably there is a high threshold for an overtake to result in a seized car.
You've got to have an offence under S3 RTA (careless driving) plus may cause alarm, distress or annoyance to a member of the public. A nornal overtake might cause annoyance, might alarm someone not paying attention and I guess someone might be distressed, but is it careless?
Discretion is still there as well. Dont have to seize it.
I did work on traffic, we rarely gave out S59s. Think ive seized one in 17 years for S59 (that did make me chuckle as the driver believed that it had expired but it was the next day)
LosingGrip said:
Mr Penguin said:
Presumably there is a high threshold for an overtake to result in a seized car.
You've got to have an offence under S3 RTA (careless driving) plus may cause alarm, distress or annoyance to a member of the public. A nornal overtake might cause annoyance, might alarm someone not paying attention and I guess someone might be distressed, but is it careless?
Discretion is still there as well. Dont have to seize it.
I did work on traffic, we rarely gave out S59s. Think ive seized one in 17 years for S59 (that did make me chuckle as the driver believed that it had expired but it was the next day)
On this road, there is a long sweeping bend where you can see across the fields (which are 6 foot lower than the road) about 1/3 mile.
I could see that just before the next tight bend, at a junction was sat a police car.
The biddy by this time had been doing 15 to 20 mph in a bit where no self respecting driver wouldn't do 40 with the limit being 60.
So knowing there was a police car to witness my overtake, I gave my mk2 cavalier SRi with 130 back box, the full red line experience.
Probably hit 50 mph in 2nd as I went past but never got to 60 mph.
Obviously plod decided to stop me.
I obviously passed the attitude test.
They were very patronising about the age of my car. I pointed out it had recently had, new tyres, brakes and shocks and only had 70k on the clock so was barely run in.
The only time I nearly didn't pass the attitude was when it was suggested that my overtaking could have caused the biddy to panic and crash.
I used the words "With respect, if you think that someone can't actually drive and has no awareness of the world around them, don't you think you should stop them and do an eye test? I haven't broken any rules from the highway code and you actually had no reason to stop me... "
Obviously they gave me a "producer" to waste my time further"
The OP claimed that two drivers could report another driver and the police would then go and take the unfortunate's car.
The subsequent link on Section 59 makes no mention of this. You can't have a system where a member of the public says 'That nasty man overtook me' or whatever, and the police simply impound the miscreant's car. There wouldn't be many cars left on the roads.
The subsequent link on Section 59 makes no mention of this. You can't have a system where a member of the public says 'That nasty man overtook me' or whatever, and the police simply impound the miscreant's car. There wouldn't be many cars left on the roads.
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