THE way that owners of temporary imported foreign-registered cars can ignore fines for parking and speed cameras has reached epic proportions.

The French, who tend to target foreign cars, have no problem in pursuing British cars for unpaid fines.

Our local authorities seem to just throw up their hands and fail to pursue errant motorists to their home address.

It is quite clear they need government help.

Starting at the ports, customs officers should check the car is insured to drive on British roads and the name and address of the registered keeper, which like our DVLA, is only too happy to provide the French with the home address of drivers, can provide the local authority with this information.

If they do not carry out this check, how will they know if the owner continues to drive on British roads after six months, if his insurance has expired and road tax of his home country is being paid?

In the USA, US customs log the details of my Land Rover, and if it does not appear to have left the USA after six months, I get a letter requesting proof that it has been shipped back to the UK, and that when I clear immigration at the airport, unpaid fines are logged on their computer and must be paid before I fly home – or on my next visit I end up in jail.

CLLR PHILIP PEARCE-SMITH, Holbury.