Lamborghini Seized by UK Police After Being Clocked at More Than Twice the Speed Limit

Essex Police seized a Lamborghini Huracan worth more than £200,000 ($271,000) on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, after the Italian supercar was caught driving at more than twice the legal speed limit in Southend. Officers had been called to the area following reports of dangerous driving and later confiscated the vehicle under section 59 of the Police Reform Act.

At that speed, the force said, the car posed a serious risk not only to its occupants but also to pedestrians and other road users. A collision could easily have proved fatal.

"Antisocial driving can pose a danger to other people using the road and cause misery to residents," a force spokesperson said. "The safety of our communities will always be our priority, and we'll take action against those who risk the safety of others."

The seizure came under police powers that were strengthened earlier this year. Under the updated rules, officers can confiscate a vehicle on the spot if it is being used in a way that causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress, annoyance, or harm to the public. Previously, drivers were generally handed a warning first, and their vehicle would only be seized if they were caught in another antisocial driving incident within 12 months. Officers can still issue a warning at their discretion, but no longer need to do so before confiscating a car.

The law's scope extends beyond excessive speed. Donuts, wheelspins, burnouts, drifting in public places, racing in residential areas, and repeated engine revving can all lead to seizure.

The Essex case is the latest sign that British police are increasingly using seizure powers to crack down on antisocial driving. In 2025, the Metropolitan Police seized 72 luxury cars in London worth more than £6 million ($8.1 million), including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys, some of which were unroadworthy or being driven illegally. In August 2026, another Met operation led to the seizure of 90 vehicles, many of them again considered unfit for the road. That haul included a limited-edition Ferrari Monza SP2 worth over $5 million, and it drew online attention after an officer was seen driving the supercar.

For police, the larger aim is deterrence as much as punishment. The message from this latest seizure is straightforward: one bout of reckless driving, however momentary, can now be enough to lose a car—whatever its sticker price.