A MAN was arrested on suspicion of drug driving as police carried out a day of action targeting motoring offences in Kidderminster.

The 48-year-old has been released under investigation. 

Officers from Wyre Forest Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) pulled over 42 cars, vans and lorries as they carried out an operation at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) site on Worcester Road on Monday (November 25).

They found three vehicles not displaying trade plates; one vehicle with tax expired; nine vehicles with illegal numberplates; two vehicles which were overweight, and five tyre defects.

They also stopped two vehicles with an illegal window/windscreen tint, where the tint was removed and two vehicles with insecure loads. 

Police stopping vehicles on MondayPolice stopping vehicles on Monday (Image: West Mercia Police)

One vehicle had no brake fluid and tyres down to ply-cord. Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) were issued and action taken for the breaches. 

Officers from Wyre Forest Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) were joined by officers from the Motorcycle Traffic Support Team (MTST), Operational Policing Unit (OPU) and partner agencies for the operation at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) site on Worcester Road.

They pulled over 42 vehicles which were checked over for their roadworthiness, insecure loads, weight limits, valid MOT and insurance certificates, stolen machinery and trailers, and illegal number plates.

Police were supported by partners at the DVSA and The Equipment Register (TER) on the day.

PCSO Andy Stevens, who organised the operation, said: “We stopped vehicles that were of interest to us, making sure they were in a roadworthy condition for the safety of all road users.

“One man was arrested for drug driving and multiple vehicles prohibited for being overloaded or unsafe.

“Drivers were also stopped for illegally displayed numberplates and tinted windows which, while some may consider to be minor offences, they are often a gateway to other ‘bigger’ offences which proved to be the case.

“Drivers with heavily tinted windows are effectively driving like they have sunglasses on at night time, which is clearly a huge risk to them and other road users.

“Vehicles that are overweight or poorly loaded will have longer braking distances, poorer handling and weakened suspension which could have consequences for other road users if they had to stop suddenly so stopping them averts another potentially dangerous situation.”