Impounding 'by 2000'
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• Legislation to impound illegally-operated trucks should be introduced before 2000, the Department of Transport has confirmed. Work is going on within the department with the aim of producing legislation within 12 months. However, its passage through Parliament could be delayed by a crowded legislative programme, a DETR spokesman says.
The Government put the issue out to consultation in April and July's Transport White Paper said legislation would be brought forward "to enable the detention of illegally operated vehicles". The consultation document proposed that Vehicle Inspectorate staff conducting roadside checks should be able to detain and then impound vehicles operating without an Operators' Licence.
Vehicles subsequently spedfled on an 0-licence could then be reclaimed while unclaimed vehicles would be sold after a specified time.
Road Haulage Association director general Steven Norris says he expects to see further proposals on how to drive the concept forward: "I'm sceptical—we won't see impounding for at least 18 months."