NEARLY 40 vehicles have been seized by Dyfed-Powys Police in one month since the force was given the legal authority to seize untaxed vehicles at the roadside.

In the first month of adopting devolved powers from the DVLA, officers have seized nearly 40 vehicles with no tax across the force area.

The authority to seize untaxed vehicles has come from a collaborative arrangement with the DVLA for devolved powers under the Vehicle Excise Duty (Immobalisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997.

The powers came into effect in June and have seen Roads Policing Unit (RPU) officers seize and remove 37 vehicles committing qualifying vehicle excise duty offences under the partnership between Dyfed-Powys Police’s Business Support Unit (BSU), RPU and the DVLA.

BSU Assistant Director Andrew Edwards said: “We are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to assume and implement these devolved powers from the DVLA.

“It is an extremely positive example of collaborative working between the BSU, the RPU here at Dyfed-Powys Police and the DVLA.

“These devolved powers will greatly assist in removing illegally driven vehicles from our roads.”

“We are determined to keep our roads safe and will always take appropriate action, using the legal powers that are available to us, to ensure anyone who chooses to break the law is appropriately dealt with”

The new powers are currently being exercised by RPU officers, but will also be rolled out across the four divisions to other staff.

A DVLA spokesman added: “We are pleased to work with Dyfed-Powys Police on this venture as part of our ongoing work with the police and local authorities to address vehicle tax evasion at local levels. While DVLA does tell drivers when their tax is due by sending reminders and last chance notices, action will be taken against those who don’t tax their vehicles - otherwise it wouldn’t be fair on those who do the right thing.”