Residents across Tendring are being warned that important changes in the law over the removal of unlicensed vehicles come into force from October 1st 2008.

And the Council - along with its partners in the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership - will be using these extended powers to take action against those who offend.

The major change is that it will be possible to remove unlicensed vehicles from areas other than public roads for the first time.

The powers will allow enforcers to enter private land - and there is no legal requirement to get the landowner's permission.

Among areas where the legislation will bite are:

 Unadopted roads
 Council car parks
 Public short stay car parks
 Housing Association roads
 Parking bays on public roads
 Supermarket or retail car parks
 Works car parks
 Pub car parks
 Waste or common ground
 Parks and playing fields

However, there are exceptions which include where a Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) is in force which has not been breached; where the vehicle is within the curtilage of a private dwelling; or if the vehicle is on the premises of a motor trader or vehicle tester.

Margaret O'Dell, Operations Manager for the Interaction Partnership who will be co-ordinating the enforcement, said that residents need to be in no doubt that they will be making use of the increased powers in Tendring.

"We are planning a number of initiatives over the coming months and people should take heed now that unlicensed vehicles will be lifted and removed if they are in areas where we have the power to do so," she said.

"This is their warning and they should not be surprised if action is taken in the near future. It is not fair on those that pay their Vehicle Excise Duty that others are trying to get away without paying it."

As well as the changes in powers there will be an increase in the charges for the release of an impounded vehicle and daily storage charges where a vehicle has been impounded and these will be going up by about 20 per cent.