MORE than 300 hundred drivers found their vehicles clamped in St Helens since the start of last year.

Information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) shows that 213 vehicles were clamped in the St Helens borough last year.

With the vehicles clamped due to unpaid road tax, the figures are broken down further with 89 vehicles clamped in the WA9 postcode, 86 clamped in the WA10 postcode, and 38 clamped in the WA11 postcode.

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In the most recent data from the DVLA, from January to June 2024, this trend has continued in St Helens, with 165 vehicles clamped in the first six months of the year.

This is broken down into 89 vehicles clamped in the WA9 postcode, 44 vehicles clamped in the WA10 postcode, and 32 vehicles clamped in the WA11 postcode.

There was another 117 vehicles clamped in the WA12 postcode last year, which includes Newton-le-Willows, Burtonwood, and Winwick. There were 40 vehicles clamped in this area in the first six months of 2024.

Owners of untaxed lamped vehicles have 24 hours to pay a £100 fine or risk their motor being impounded. After seven days of storage, vehicles can either be sold or destroyed, before being disposed of by auction, breaking or crushing.

By law, it’s an offence to drive a vehicle on a public road in the UK without valid road tax, which can result in a licensing penalty letter and a fine. If not paid, the offence may be pursued through the magistrates court where the maximum penalty is £2,500.

A DVLA spokesperson said: “Whilst over 98% of vehicles are taxed correctly, DVLA is committed to keeping untaxed vehicles off our roads.

 “We have a range of enforcement measures including fines and penalties and are working hard with our national wheel clamping partner to clamp untaxed vehicles.

 “It is easy for drivers to pay their vehicle tax, including using our quick and accessible online services or spread the cost using Direct Debit.”