Drivers have been warned of new enforcement operations across a popular area, which will see Britons slapped with hefty penalties for traffic offences.
Kent Police have started targeting dangerous drivers and unsafe vehicles, which have become more prominent in the area during its latest action operation.
The enforcement specifically looks into anti-social behaviour in Rochester and Strood and comes after concerns were raised with neighbourhood officers by residents and business owners.
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The operation took place last week and saw local constables assisted by roads policing officers, Medway Council and the Environment Agency complete checks at town centre locations.
The police operation saw several drivers slapped with penalties for dangerous driving
|KENT POLICE
During the enforcement period, the police detailed how a total of 59 traffic offence reports were issued to drivers for a range of offences.
This included having no insurance, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and having unsecured children in a vehicle.
Driving a vehicle without insurance in the UK can result in a £300 fixed penalty and six penalty points, but if the case is taken to court, it can result in an unlimited fine and potential disqualification.
In the UK, using a handheld mobile phone or device while driving a car, lorry, or bus can result in a £200 fine as well as six penalty points on a driving licence.
The police seize e-bikes and e-scooters across the region which failed to meet UK standards
|KENT POLICE
Motorists travelling with children can be fined up to £500 for each child under 14 in the vehicle who is not in the correct car seat or wearing a seat belt.
Three graduated fixed penalty notices totalling £600 were also issued for no insurance, no driving licence and no seatbelt.
During the checks, one car, two electric bikes and seven e-scooters were seized for failing to meet compliance rules, while a motorist was told to stop driving until a faulty seatbelt was repaired.
Currently, e-scooters can only be used in trial areas and on private property, due to Kent County Council concluding its trial in 2022, as any e-scooter found on roads could be instantly seized by police.
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As for e-bikes, they have to meet certain requirements to be used on UK roads. This includes having speeds capped at 15.5mph. If they exceed this, they become classified as motor vehicles and will require insurance to operate.
Environment officers also stopped 12 vehicles carrying waste, with enquiries underway to ensure they were complying with their licence conditions.
Inspector Paul Diddams said: "Law-abiding motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are put at unnecessary risk by those who flout the law.
"Local people have shared their concerns and we are determined to target illegal drivers and, where appropriate, remove their vehicles from public roads."
He warned that the enforcement will be repeated throughout the rest of the year across Medway.
Drivers can be fined for travelling without insurance on UK roads
| GETTYMr Diddams added: "Our message is simple: if you are driving an unsafe and illegal vehicle, electric bike or e-scooter. Be prepared to have it seized and face being reported for any offences you have committed."
In response to the operation, several drivers have taken to social media to express their frustration over growing unrest surrounding anti-social behaviour in the area.
One person suggested that the penalty for driving with no insurance be a minimum £1,000 fine, as "we all pay higher premiums because of uninsured drivers, so it should be a harsher penalty".
Another social media user claimed: "How are you supposed to wear a seat belt on a scooter? Also, do you need insurance for a toy? Also, how can a push bike be illegal? You don't need insurance or a licence to cycle on the road. What are these coppers playing at?"