A TEENAGER who had his car impounded for ‘having no insurance’ has been told he must pay £150 to get it back — despite being covered by a policy.

Officers stopped 17-year-old Keaton Greaves on the car park of Asda, in Colne, after checks indicated he was not insured to drive mum Keeley’s Honda Civic.

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Despite Keaton’s pleas that he was on a temporary policy and his offer to go back to his home in Langroyd Road with police to show them the documents, the vehicle was seized.

The relevant insurance documents have since been produced to police, but Keeley, 37, has been told the family must pay a £150 fee to reclaim the car, as well as a charge for each day the vehicle has been stored by Lancashire Police.

Keeley said the battle with police had been ‘horrendous’ for her and her son, who has fought to get his life back on track after almost drowning in Foulridge Reservoir during the incident that saw his 17-year-old friend, James Goodship, die in June 2014.

“It’s been so difficult for us, Keaton nearly drowned that night and he lost a friend, it’s been a horrendous year,” said Keeley.

“It was 1am when Keaton parked at Asda, there was a police car there and it pulled behind him and then an officer got out to ask him about the insurance.

“He said he was insured on a temporary policy and offered to go and get the documents, but instead the vehicle was seized and he was issued with a ticket.”

Keeley said she was refusing to pay the police charges as her son had done nothing wrong.

She said: “No offence has been committed so why I am being asked to pay to get my car back? It’s ridiculous.

“The police should never have seized the car, they could have shown some common sense and gone with Keaton so he could show them the documents.

“Keaton has really done well this year. It’s been incredibly difficult for him but he has got a job as an apprentice joiner, but this has really shaken him.

“He only passed his test this year and he did a week’s overtime to be able to afford to get a temporary insurance policy.

“The police need to be aware that not all 17-years-olds are little thugs, this is just so cruel.

“I’m not going to pay those fees, I don’t see why I should, it’s a matter of principle now.”

Police said that any driver on a temporary insurance policy should carry the documents with them, while most temporary insurance providers recommend that documents are carried while information is sent to the Motor Insurance Database, which can take up to 48 hours.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “This car was seized under Section 136 of the Road Traffic Act when the driver failed to produce the relevant insurance documents.

“Anybody insured on a temporary policy should always carry the documents with them to produce if they are stopped.

“Once a car has been seized there are fees that have to be paid before it is released.”