Officers from North Yorkshire Police, the Vehicle Operator Services Agency and HM Customs and Excise were looking for traffic offences such as failing to wear a seatbelt, using mobile phones while driving or the illegal use of red diesel.
Sgt Neil Campbell, of the Malton Road Policing Group, which covers the Scarborough area, said he was surprised at the number of motorists who were caught breaking the law. He said "The results are quite disappointing. There's a large number of drivers who are flouting the law and who are putting their own safety, as well as the safety of their passengers, by failing to wear their seatbelts.
"Despite the high media interest and the amount of media involvement that we've given to it, it's surprising so many are still caught." The checks were part of the ongoing road safety campaign, Operation Anvil, and out of the 90 motorists who were stopped: 10 will be prosecuted for failing to wear a seatbelt; One failed to stop for the police; Six were caught using mobile phones while driving; Four had illegally tinted windscreens; Five had illegal or misrepresented number plates; One vehicle was seized for the illegal use of red diesel; 12 were issued with prohibition notices because their vehicles were not in a roadworthy condition.
The checks were carried out in Seamer Road on Monday between 10am and 2pm.Officers acted as spotters, watching vehicles travelling to and from Scarborough, and offending vehicles were stopped by more officers further down the road. Once suspected drivers were pulled over they could, depending on the severity of the offence, be given advice by officers, issued with a fixed penalty ticket, given a fine or a combination of all three.
