94 offences spotted on M6 in Warwickshire in two days

During the operation, police motorcyclists patrolled the M6 in Warwickshire to identify vehicles of interest and bring them into the Corley Services check site to be inspected by experienced officers and staff from OPU, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, Forensic Vehicle Investigation team and Special Constabulary.

During the two day operation the following offences were detected:

• 6 drivers for no insurance and their vehicles were seized

• 5 drivers for driving with no licence and their vehicles were seized

• 3 drivers for no tax and 3 for no MOT

• 3 drivers for not wearing a seatbelt

• 2 drivers for careless driving

• 3 drivers for using a handheld mobile phone whilst driving at high speed on the motorway and one driver for not being in proper control of the vehicle

• 7 drivers were driving vehicles with excessive tints

• 8 drivers were driving vehicles with tyre defects

• 6 drivers received Vehicle Defect Rectification Notices and were given the opportunity to deal with relatively minor defects, like cracked light lenses, blown bulbs, or worn tyres within 14 days to avoid prosecution. A VDRN is given at the discretion of the officer who stopped you and defects should be fixed straight away or prosecution could follow.

• 17 drivers were driving vehicles that were dangerously overweight and 11 drivers were found not to have safely secured the loads they were transporting. These drivers were prohibited from continuing their journey’s until their loads were reduced and made safe.

• 2 drivers were stopped for ignoring a red automatic traffic signal

In total, 16 drivers were prohibited from continuing their journey and their vehicles were seized

PC Jamie Blood said “The results speak for themselves and are a testament to the hard work of all staff involved.

“As well as educating the public, the operation was also an opportunity to develop trainee police officers in the skills and knowledge needed to inspect all types of motor vehicles and trailers at the roadside and exercise powers to prohibit the use of vehicles and trailers that are considered an immediate danger to public safety.

“This means even more Warwickshire Police officers will be able to help make our roads safer and reduce the numbers of people who are killed and seriously injured on our roads every year.”