£238,000 Lamborghini gets a very expensive lesson in antisocial driving

When your supercar becomes police property

There are easier ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than having the police confiscate your Lamborghini.

But that is exactly what happened in Southend after Essex police received reports of a Lamborghini Huracan allegedly being driven at more than twice the speed limit.

The supercar was seized under Britain's strengthened antisocial-driving laws.

And depending on the exact model, it could be worth up to £238,195.

That's one rather expensive Saturday afternoon.

The law has changed

The police don't necessarily have to wait for a second offence anymore.

Section 59 of the Police Reform Act was strengthened earlier this year, giving officers the power to seize a vehicle immediately if they believe it is being used — or is likely to be used — in a way that causes alarm, distress or annoyance to the public.

Previously, drivers could receive a warning before their vehicle was seized for another antisocial-driving incident within 12 months.

Now the warning system has considerably sharper teeth.

Burnouts? Goodbye Lamborghini

Police say the rules can be used against behaviour including wheelspins and burnouts, drifting in public places, racing around residential areas and repeated revving that causes a nuisance.

Quite a list.

And presumably somewhere in Britain there is now a Lamborghini owner quietly reading those words and reconsidering the wisdom of demonstrating the exhaust system outside somebody's bedroom window at 2am.

Essex takes the Huracan

In this case, Essex police said they received reports of dangerous driving in Southend, with the Lamborghini suspected of travelling at more than twice the posted speed limit.

The force said antisocial driving can endanger other road users and cause misery for residents.

Quite right.

Although one suspects the owner may currently have a slightly different description for what happened.

“Where's my Lamborghini?”

“Er... the police have it.”

Britain has form

This isn't the first time Britain's crackdown has produced some spectacularly expensive confiscations.

Last year, the Metropolitan police seized 72 luxury vehicles worth more than £6 million during a crackdown in London.

The collection reportedly included Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys.

And then things got even more interesting.

Last month, a police officer got the opportunity to drive a £3.7 million Ferrari Monza SP2 after the rare open-top supercar was seized during another crackdown.

Imagine explaining that one to your mates.

“What did you do at work today?”

“Drove a Ferrari worth £3.7 million.”

“Nice. Who owns it?”

“Er... technically, the police.”

The ultimate parking fine

The Lamborghini Huracan seized in Southend is obviously a much cheaper proposition than that £3.7 million Ferrari.

But £238,000 is still enough to buy a very nice house in many parts of Britain.

And that is what makes this little story so delicious.

For years, some drivers have apparently regarded a supercar as a licence to make sure everyone within three miles knows about it.

Now the police have acquired a rather simple response:

You can keep the noise. We'll keep the Lamborghini.

A very expensive reminder

Nobody knows yet what will ultimately happen to the Huracan.

But the message from the new rules is unmistakable.

A spectacular car may attract attention.

Driving it like a lunatic can attract rather more.

And if the police decide the driving has crossed the line into antisocial behaviour, the owner may discover that the most expensive thing about owning a Lamborghini isn't the purchase price.

It's losing it. 😂

SOURCE

So what happens when it turns out that it's a rented vehicle?

It's not confiscated, it's impounded until someone pays the towing and storage fees which are likely a bit on the expensive side and proves ownership by presenting documents.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by ukrules

35 minutes ago, ukrules said:

So what happens when it turns out that it's a rented vehicle?

It's not confiscated, it's impounded until someone pays the towing and storage fees which are likely a bit on the expensive side and proves ownership by presenting documents.

If it’s not returned by the end of the rental agreement then the renter is liable for extra charges and all fines and penalties.

More interesting is how the knob end who was driving the car explains his predicament to friends and family.

Loss of face is not just an Asian thing.