Drivers who leave cars on their own driveway face £80 fine in 'crackdown'

Drivers who leave cars on their own driveway face £80 fine in 'crackdown'
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Drivers who leave their cars "unattended" on driveways while leaving their cars running and engine on face £80 fines in a crackdown. Motorists also face a new 'frostjacking' trend from thieves as the UK snow storm continues across the country.

Dick Lovett warned: "Leaving your car running while unattended, even for just a slight minute, creates the perfect opportunity for thieves to strike, and they can jump in and drive away in seconds - sometimes without you even knowing.

"If you do need to warm up your car or clear the frost off your windows, stay inside the vehicle while it runs." The experts added: "Thieves can bypass locks or break windows quickly to gain access if you’re away, even with the doors locked."

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Marks & Spencer £40 jeans shopper bought 'because Nicki Chapman wore them'

READ MORE: UK set for new snow bomb spanning 'several hundred miles' within days

READ MORE Octopus issues £900 warning to anyone who is a customer with them

They said: "It’s crucial to lock your car doors, even if you’re just stepping away for a moment. Many frost-jacking incidents occur when people leave their car running in their driveway, assuming it’s safe and secure, but you can never be too sure.

"More than often, thieves will patrol the streets looking for easy opportunities, so don’t make it easier for them." Drivers could also be fined between £20 to £80, with idling an engine unnecessarily considered a breach of the Road Vehicles Regulations of 1986.

Police have renewed an appeal to motorists to stay vigilant and not to risk leaving vehicles unattended while defrosting. Three vehicles were stolen on Brankholm Brae and Whitecraig Gardens in Hamilton and in Coll, East Kilbride.

Police say enquiries are ongoing. Speaking out this week, a police spokesperson said: "Please be aware of frost-jacking. Several cars have been stolen across Lanarkshire this morning. Leaving your car unlocked and unattended with the engine running is a temptation for opportunist thieves, and could invalidate your insurance if your vehicle is stolen or damaged."