THE latest phase of a crackdown on car tax dodgers will be launched this month - as officials aim to recover £3m in lost revenue from the cheats.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) believes there are 30,000 untaxed vehicles in North Yorkshire and they will be targeted in an operation using the most sophisticated technology.

"Stingray" camera devices can read the number plates of passing vehicles and instantly check national records to see whether they have been taxed.

Stingray will be launched in North Yorkshire on April 22 and will operate across the county for a fortnight.

On the same day, DVLA wheelclamp teams will begin a two-week operation across the Scarborough and Ryedale areas.

Traffic Sergeant Chris Charlton, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "We estimate that there are 3,900 evaders in the Scarborough district and 1,900 in Ryedale, and we are giving the DVLA every possible assistance in getting these tax cheats to pay up.

"All responsible road users tax their vehicles. Why should we have to subsidise the irresponsible and dishonest minority?"

He said the police would be working with the DVLA on a series of wheelclamp and Stingray swoops.

"Stingray will provide incontrovertible evidence if an untaxed car, lorry or motorbike is being used on the road, and we know from past experience that the wheel-clamp teams not only catch a large number of tax dodgers, but they have a remarkable effect on the memories of people who have 'forgotten' to tax their cars.

"Last time they came to North Yorkshire, 5,100 vehicles were voluntarily re-licensed - the equivalent of £800,000 of revenue."

In last year's two-week operation 89 untaxed vehicles were clamped and 54 were subsequently scrapped.

More than 100 unlicensed vehicles were caught in the first few days when a clampdown on road tax dodgers was launched on Teesside last month