A POLICE crackdown on uninsured drivers resulted in 62 vehicles being seized by officers in the Borders during the five months to November 30.
And most of the culprits did not have cover because they were driving without full licences.
The police released the figures as a warning that extensive road checks, both static and in response to accidents, are targeting much more than drink-driving over the festive period.
“If you don’t have a full licence or are a provisional [learner] driver unaccompanied by a qualified driver, you are, by definition, uninsured,” said Inspector Colin Shillito of the Hawick-based road policing section.
He revealed there had been nine vehicle seizures in July, 13 in August, 15 in September, 13 in October and 12 in November.
“We are committed to making our roads safer,” said Inspector Shillito.
“During high-visibility road checks involving road police and operational officers in the division, we have established either drivers not driving in accordance with their licences or vehicles having no insurance.
“We will continue these checks until we are confident people are taking the warning on board.
“My message to those who ignore this warning is: you will get caught.”
The fixed penalty for driving without insurance is currently £200, with six penalty points. Those who choose to go to court are invariably given stiffer sentences. Drivers aged 17-21 who drive without insurance within two years of passing their test are automatically banned.
Meanwhile, a further two vehicle seizures took place earlier this month from motorists who had already received warnings over the antisocial nature of their driving.
A police spokesman said there are currently 41 Borders motorists on a “yellow card” for the kind of manoeuvres, including noisy handbrake turns and unsafe overtaking, associated with so-called boy racers.