Anyone know what happens if the police confiscate your car keys?

I confiscated my late MiL’s car keys after she drove into the side of an articulated lorry, and told me in mitigation that she hadn’t noticed it driving across her path at a crossroads. I expected her to protest, but she merely said “Really, dear? Perhaps you’re right”. She sold the car and managed perfectly well with buses until other factors made venturing out alone impossible.

The insurance company should be notified kitty. I very much doubt that the insurance is still valid - they have to be told about changes that might affect their willingness to insure or the price at which they will do so. The intervention by the police and withholding of the keys is definitely one such.

Iam, we do too, they have been brilliant.

But my sil is still awaiting an official diagnosis. Someone will take her to the next appt. But, she could easily forget not to drive if she wants to nip to the shop.

She was quite a scary driver previously!

I think that Ladyleftfield makes a good point. If someone is insured to drive the car, can you find somewhere to store it? Ask for police advice on moving it if need be. Then tell s-i-l that the police are checking her car. She may forget about it, or if like my mum, she keeps asking, say it needs work doing, still sorting it out.....etc.
We had an old friend who knew a lot about cars, and my mum trusted his advice, where she thought her family just annoying! So she accepted what he told her. I wonder if you can do something like that.
I think the neighbour is being very helpful, but if it was me, I'd only want to hold the keys whilst things were sorted out, not long term.
God luck!

Exactly what I was going to say Iam.

No, whiff, they haven't!! MY Bil is in hospital after falling down stairs. He has always refused our advice to do them. Even now!

Their son is organising everything for his parents at the moment and not necessarily involving his sister who asks my advice (and moans) on a regular basis.

The police seem to have handled this initial stage well. It’s over to the family to involve the GP and make sure the individual doesn’t drive. It’s difficult but not an uncommon situation. I suspect insurance will be invalid from the point of police advice.

kittylester has the family got both lasting powers of attorney health and financial? If not I would advise them to. I took mine out 2 years ago when I changed my will it was easier. And ment I didn't have to worry in the future. Only 64 not intending to pop my clogs anytime soon. But we all have to do what makes things easier for our families.

I think it’s difficult without a formal diagnosis, a relative with a grudge could contact her insurance/DVLA, I’d expect them to need proof..

Monica, as I said, I help run courses for people who care for people with dementia.

Where there is a very early diagnosis people can be assessed as fit to drive. I have seen it happen quite a few times.

The DVLA often refer to the gp and occasionally ask for a rl assessment.

I tend to think that if someone needs a referral to a memory clinic they should have their licence removed.

I have yet to know anyone with dementia who was allowed to continue driving. You must also tell your insurance company immediately and they may well remove insurance cover and you are unlikey to find cover elsewhere.

I am yet to know anyone who has appealed, had a driving assessment and not had their licence taken away.

Thank you for all your replies.

My query really was about now! Will she receive something official, will there be a time limit. Has she had a letter and put it in a drawer?

I volunteer with the carers of people living with dementia and have never heard of this happening.

A diagnosis of dementia doesn't mean an automatic driving ban and no one wants her driving again but we wonder what will happen next - from an official point of view.

I would suggest that someone gets in touch with the DVLA and not to wait for a diagnosis because anything can happen in the time that you have to wait for that. Let the DVLA know what the situation is. They can come out and assess the driving and decide whether the person is capable or not.
This happened to a friend of my Mum's and when the assessment was made she was told by them that she couldn't drive any more.
With regards to the keys is this lady capable of simply ordering a replacement key herself? If she is she may do that and then she'll be driving again.
The idea about moving the car to somewhere else is a good idea.
It's a hard one is this. I wish you well.

We all want to be independant as long as possible but some take it too far.
Last year I was waiting at traffic lights in town when an elderly man drove his mobility scooter diagonally across the lights, he was wearing an oxygen mask and the cylinder fastened to the back of the scooter.
He should not have been allowed to do that, although he was only a danger to himself.

Take the keys away, preferably park the car somewhere else, this lady is not fit to be driving, even without the official diagnosis.
Do you think her Insurance will cover her if she has an accident ? and heaven forbid she injures someone.

I did just what Whiff did.
My H had a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and DVLA were waiting for a reply from the Dr.
I pre-empted this by telling my H he was no longer safe to drive and sent his licence to DVLA .
It didn’t go down well at first but was soon accepted by him.
He asked several times why he couldn’t drive but never really bothered.
My friend’s BiL was very aggressive when told he couldn’t drive anymore.
He threatened his wife on several occasions and would drive on his own.
It took his AC to intervene and take the car away.

This isn't the same situation. But think it still applies. My husband's cancer gave him secondary tumours 2 of which where in his brain he had 6 . But these where by the optical nerve. When he hit a cars wing mirror he admitted he's eyesight was changing. So once home I told him he could never drive again and took his keys . After the I've been driving for 30 years rant. Told him how would he feel if he hurt us or anyone else driving. He informed the DVLA that day and the car was off the road.

When someone's driving for any reason is getting worse then they have to be stopped. In your case your sister in law's family have to act. Take her keys even disable the car and tell the DVLA she has stopped driving . Next time she could hurt herself or someone else.

I would have thought the police might want her to take some kind of a test to check if she is safe to drive.

It is complicated, though.

Granny23

If a GP or Consultant diagnoses Dementia (or some other diseases/conditions e,g, Parkinson's), they have a duty to report this to the DVLA. The driver can then ask to be re-tested at a special test centre or voluntarily hand back their licence.

Alzheimer's chat room Talking Point has many posts on this topic, including ones from close family detailing various tactics they used to prevent their PWD driving

Actually a GP or consultant do not have to report a diagnosis to the DVLA unless they believe that driving might be affected. When my mum was diagnosed the consultant told us that we needed to monitor mums driving and contact the DVLA if we felt that mum was driving badly. As it happens, mum decided herself to give up driving when she got her diagnosis so the DVLA were not informed.

Kitty, it’s possible that because of police involvement, your sister in laws insurance might be invalid.

Re the keys, it’s probably not fair to leave them with a neighbour, your sister in law might get cross and aggressive trying to get them back. Disconnecting the battery or making some other adjustment to stop the engine working is a more sensible move. It might be necessary to remove the car from the drive as seeing it there will be a constant reminder and cause great anxiety.

As I understand it a diagnosis of dementia means you have to stop driving immediately or until you can show you are fit ti drive.

Not dementia, DH went to see the doctor becaue he had sleep apnia and was having micro sleeps. The doctor told him from the moment of her diagnosis he could not drive until he could show that his sleep problem was monitored and under control

It sounds as if the police are giving the family the chance to deal with it themselves. Which hopefully they will do. If her driving was bad enough to be reported and she carries on surely it can only result in an accident and injury for someone.

The above should read ... holding onto someone else's keys can be construed as theft.

Hmm. However well-meaning, taking and holding onto This question comes up from time to time in discussions about drink driving.

If you cannot persuade a doctor to contact the DVLA in this interim period before the formal diagnosis and she demands the keys I think all you can do is what we are instructed to do if someone is about the drink drive. Call 999, report the car's registration and whereabouts and let them assess the situation.

If a GP or Consultant diagnoses Dementia (or some other diseases/conditions e,g, Parkinson's), they have a duty to report this to the DVLA. The driver can then ask to be re-tested at a special test centre or voluntarily hand back their licence.

Alzheimer's chat room Talking Point has many posts on this topic, including ones from close family detailing various tactics they used to prevent their PWD driving

I do understand what you meant Kitty I think it is very often left to the family to either break the news or take the keys etc
In my experience friends with family with dementia have done just that
Perhaps the polices idea is the right one to disconnect the battery
Isn’t life difficult