Car tax evasion comes under DOE spotlight

A new Department of Environment sting operation will, for the first time, be able to detect those with unlicensed vehicles on the roads.

The system, known as Stingray, will be able to detect unlicensed vehicles on the move and will be used to target those who evade paying their road tax.

Sam Foster, the Minister of the Environment, launched the new Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) Cameras for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) in Belfast on Wednesday January 16.

Mr Foster said: “These new cameras put road tax dodgers in the frame now. DVLNI camera teams can move quickly from location to location, and those who previously took the risk of driving whilst unlicensed, will soon realise that there is no place to hide.”

The special vans will operate from lay-bys and over-bridges and detect unlicensed vehicles on the move. The cameras will read the number plates of passing vehicles, check them immediately against DVLNI records, and store electronically the images of vehicles found to be unlicensed. This photographic evidence can be presented in court in support of prosecutions.

“The new ANPR cameras are a powerful deterrent to those who may consider risking driving whilst unlicensed,” said DVLNI Chief Executive, Brendan Magee. “We have an extensive publicity campaign to encourage all motorists to check that their vehicles are properly licensed and, if not, to relicense them immediately. We warn evaders that from today, mobile camera units will be operating throughout Northern Ireland.” (AMcE)