Cops, bailiffs unite to seize dangerous cars

MARK STORY
Hastings police and court bailiffs are trialling new combined checkpoints in an attempt to get dangerous cars off the road.
Three court bailiffs accompanied police during Tuesday's first checkpoint in Flaxmere, which resulted in the seizure of eight vehicles and 30 infringement notices.
Sergeant Clint Adamson said the initiative was part of a greater working relationship between local court staff and police.
``We seized a surprising number of cars in our first attempt, which is alarming. But it also shows the idea is a sound one,' he said.
``Ordinarily, police are not privy to information about motorists' unpaid fines, yet with bailiffs accompanying us, we now have that information instantly.'
He said the move wasn't aimed at motorists owing meagre amounts but ``those who owed thousands of dollars'.
``Generally speaking, the same people who have a history of unpaid traffic fines are also the ones driving round in unsafe cars, so we're actually accomplishing two things.'
He said the new checkpoints would become a six-weekly feature on the region's roads.