My car has been clamped by the police indefinitely (4weeks ago) due to someone I know driving it who has a disqualified drivers licence and had been intercepted by the police driving it 3 times in the last 12 month period.
Please note I was not the driver of the car that committed offences, but I am the registered and licensed owner of the vehicle. Although I had not authorised him to drive the car on this occasion, my keys were left in an area that was accessible by him. Police remanded him in custody and refused him bail and he has fully been cooperative and admitted fault.
It's the only car I have and causing me severe hardship, as I have a 3-year-old child that requires me taking him to daycare etc, work on a casual basis, also needing the car to make weekly visits to my son's father who is terminally ill in hospital. I was advised to make an order to the magistrate to have it unclamped, which I did. Police prosecution has denied this request and put in an order for forfeiture of the vehicle, and the matter is due for court again on 26th March. As yet, I have been asked no questions by police or had the opportunity to explain or defend this decision. I also have no history of any driving offences whatsoever. The driver has been sentenced to 9 months prison, so obviously has no opportunity to be able to drive my car again, nor would I let him, so the forfeiture order of my vehicle would not be preventing any danger to the public.
Why haven't I been given any reasons for this action? Why is an innocent person (myself) being punished when I have committed no offence? How can I challenge this forfeiture order? I can not afford a solicitor and myself and my innocent child are suffering from this action.
Please note I was not the driver of the car that committed offences, but I am the registered and licensed owner of the vehicle. Although I had not authorised him to drive the car on this occasion, my keys were left in an area that was accessible by him. Police remanded him in custody and refused him bail and he has fully been cooperative and admitted fault.
It's the only car I have and causing me severe hardship, as I have a 3-year-old child that requires me taking him to daycare etc, work on a casual basis, also needing the car to make weekly visits to my son's father who is terminally ill in hospital. I was advised to make an order to the magistrate to have it unclamped, which I did. Police prosecution has denied this request and put in an order for forfeiture of the vehicle, and the matter is due for court again on 26th March. As yet, I have been asked no questions by police or had the opportunity to explain or defend this decision. I also have no history of any driving offences whatsoever. The driver has been sentenced to 9 months prison, so obviously has no opportunity to be able to drive my car again, nor would I let him, so the forfeiture order of my vehicle would not be preventing any danger to the public.
Why haven't I been given any reasons for this action? Why is an innocent person (myself) being punished when I have committed no offence? How can I challenge this forfeiture order? I can not afford a solicitor and myself and my innocent child are suffering from this action.