British law gets tough with anti-social joyriders

THE British Government has introduced tough measures to tackle the scourge of joyriding.

The number of incidents involving motorists and motorcyclists have increased tenfold in recent years.

Weaving in and out of heavy traffic, mounting footpaths to avoid traffic jams, streaking across public parks and staging competition rides in housing estates without consideration for others comes under the laws introduced on New Year’s Day.

Under the new powers, implemented through the Police Reform Act 2002, officers can now seize cars and motorbikes “driven carelessly in a manner that causes annoyance and distress to others”.

The owner of the vehicle will have to pay up to stg£357 to retrieve the vehicle. However, owners will not be liable to pay a recovery fee if they are not the driver, have not consented to the use of the vehicle and could not have prevented the vehicle being driven in an anti-social manner.

Home Office Minister John Denham said recently: “Joyriding and the anti-social use of cars and motorbikes can blight local communities causing misery and distress to people going about their daily lives. We are determined to deal with this growing problem and are giving police and community support officers radical new powers to seize vehicles being driven recklessly on roads, public footpaths, parks and housing estates. This will put an immediate stop to dangerous and intimidating behaviour.”