Motorcycle Insurance

A rider in Wigan was left stranded by police after a dispute over his motorcycle insurance documents, it has emerged.

Shaun Smalley will now face a payout of £150 to recover his vehicle, with the charge rising by a further £10 for each day it is held by police, the Wigan Observer reports.

The 41-year-old was asked to present his insurance details to a traffic officer in Atherton, but did not have them with him at the time.

Despite explaining to police that he was qualified to ride the bike with L plates after passing his Compulsory Basic Training test, Mr Hindley saw his vehicle taken away by police after checks failed to confirm his claims.

Police have since confirmed that the bike was "lawfully seized" and the rider must now provide the correct documentation and pay the charges if he is to recover the machine.

However, Mr Hindley is concerned that he will be unable to raise the money required, meaning the bike could be crushed by police within seven days.

"I don't have that kind of money. I am unemployed and have arthritis. All the family chipped in to buy the bike for me. I need the bike," he told the newspaper.

This incident comes after a motorcyclist in Northern Ireland was hit with a six-month driving ban after police caught him riding without insurance, according to the Fermanagh Herald.

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