Vehicle impounded in Rotherham town centre over unpaid parking fines

A ROGUE motorist has had a vehicle seized and impounded after racking up 12 unpaid parking fines.

On Thursday, March 14, by Rotherham Borough Council parking enforcement officers clamped the vehicle on Domine Lane in the town centre and arranged for it to be towed away as a “persistent evader”.

The driver used a power tool in an attempt to remove the clamp but was arrested by police on suspicion of criminal damage to the clamp and the vehicle was impounded.

The council announced plans to tackle the problem of persistent evaders, along with those who park dangerously or cause obstructions, in September 2016.

Since then, 44 vehicles have been seized by the authority and £4,450 in unpaid penalty charges has been recovered.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, the council's cabinet member for jobs and the local economy, said: "Unfortunately a small number of motorists are responsible for a number of offences, which can cause safety issues for other highway users. Some of these people think they are untouchable but the council will catch up with them."

Cllr Lelliott added the council was determined to crack down on these types of persistent offending and she was pleased to say that over the last two year, they have noticed a reduction in problems with vehicles parking dangerously.