The rate of motor tax evasion is over three times higher in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK, it was revealed today.
Levels are on the increase with a small hard core of offenders trying to avoid payment, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) said.
The authorities are planning a fresh clamp down over the next few weeks.
DVA chief executive Brendan Magee said: “It’s only fair that we do all that we can to catch the small minority who are determined to act irresponsibly.”
The rate of evasion of motor tax in Northern Ireland increased from 2.3 per cent in 2007 to 2.6 per cent in 2008.
Mr Magee added, in spite of the success in driving down the rate of evasion from 10 per cent in 2002, motor tax evasion was now over 3.5 times higher than in the rest of the UK.
“It’s not just about collecting the tax due...over half of the vehicles detected with no tax also had no insurance and four out 10 vehicles of testable age had no current test certificate and therefore were potentially unroadworthy,” he added.
In Belfast in September a pilot exercise clamped 320 unlicensed vehicles and it will be repeated this year.
Operation Evader will target vehicles untaxed for more than 28 days.
PSNI chief inspector Gary McComb said: “Unlicensed vehicles are a menace. Our previous operation confirmed that many are unroadworthy and are driven by people who have no driving licence or insurance, presenting a real danger to all road users and pedestrians.
“Untaxed and unregistered vehicles are difficult to trace and are often used by criminals and drivers who engage in erratic and dangerous driving. By taking them off our roads, we are making Northern Ireland safer for everyone.”
Owners of clamped vehicles must pay £260 (€275) before they are released or £100 (€105) along with production of a valid tax disc. Recovered vehicles which are not claimed within seven days may be crushed.