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Highway robbery

Has anyone any experience of section 59 - basically an anti-social order - which police can use to target young drivers, issue an initial warning, then once the car is flagged up on the NPR, stop them again and impound the vehicle. It costs150 to get it back plus 20 a day storage - or after 30 days it is crushed.

In a nutshell a PC can issue this if he has "reasonable belief that a vehicle is being driven carelessly and used in a manner which is causing alarm, distress or annoyance". It removes all burden of proof and is totally non specific. How open to abuse is this?

When my son told me of a friend who has his car seized after failing to indicate on a roundabout I thought he was joking. Not so. Last night my son was stopped for "going too fast" and given his second section 59. He and a friend were turfed out of the car, left to walk home, and it was towed away. I was absolutely livid but it appears that there is absolutely no recourse.

I appreciate that this legislation was brought in to curb boy racers ragging their cars and bikes round estates and open land but it is wide open to abuse.

If a driver is caught speeding then charge them! A section 59 needs no evidence and is far more costly. I would also be interested to know whether the police receive any percentage of the 150 tow away fee.
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