Loopholes in vehicle licensing system costing millions

The Government has reportedly uncovered major cracks in the system that issues license plates for the motoring public.

Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry disclosed in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, that significant changes are coming to remedy what he says is a large number of deficiencies, depriving government's coffers of millions of dollars each year.

In his Sectoral debate presentation in Gordon House on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Henry said a recent audit and consultation exercise involving the police, the Revenue Department and the Ministry of National Security exposed major weaknesses in the system that issues license plates.

Mr. Henry told parliamentarians that among the incidents identified were rampant theft of vehicles due to get license plates, counterfeit license plates and the trafficking of stolen vehicles.

The Transport Minister says the deficiencies in the system pose grave implications.

As a result he says the necessary changes will be made by amending the relevant laws to stem these problems.

“In recognizing these problems and address the loopholes it is expected that a total of 554,000 registered motor vehicles, including privately registered motor vehicles would be affected by the scheme. The revision of the Road Traffic Act means essentially that the relevant legislative amendment for effecting the required changes to the current license plate system would be addressed by the Act,”

“In addition to addressing the changes that would be carried out to the actual license plates, the examination of the provision of the act is also to be extended and an assessment of the license plate-vehicle relationship,” he said.

Meanwhile the Minister also complained that the existing points system that penalizes errant drivers is not working.

He disclosed that a single driver has accumulated over 1,500n citation over a two year period without being prosecuted by the authorities.

Mr. Henry says that case has been turned over to the police for immediate action.