Cars returned, three number plates seized

ALL seven cars siezed in a police raid at Bureau of Standards, Macoya on Tuesday evening  have been returned to their owner while four of the controversial number plates were confiscated for investigations.

The cars bearing the number plates D 870, D 871 and D 669 registered with Japan Motor Sales Company of Uriah Butler Highway were siezed by Tunapuna police following a report of several vehicles with duplicate “demonstration” number plates. According to information about 2 pm on Tuesday police swooped down on the government establishment after it was reported that several vehicles bearing duplicate number plates were seen in the carpark. Recently, following the crashes of several foreign-used vehicles because of faulty manufacturing, a law was passed that all imported vehicles must have the approval of the Bureau of Standard before they become roadworthy.

The seven were part of a larger fleet that just got their demonstration numbers from the Licensing Authority. The seized vehicles were temporarily lodged at the Tunapuna police station while fingerprint experts and licensing personnel checked out the cars and engines for any tampering or signs of illegal activities. The vehicles which consisted of mainly Wingroad wagons, B14s and B15s were returned to the owner while four number plates which were duplicates of the other three were kept for further investigations.

When contacted police confirmed that the use of duplicate number plates was a ploy used by foreign-used/roll-on-roll-off car company owners to beat the system. “What the officials do is import scores of cars, but register only four or five demonstration number plates.” These plates which are discarded when the vehicle is sold are duplicated several times and placed on all the other vehicles, saving the car company thousands of dollars. “In other words the car companies are robbing the government of thousands if not millions of dollars, and then turn around and complain when taxes on imports are raised.” When contacted, manager of Japan Motors Sales company Attma Jomomah was not available for comment. Ag Cpl Mona of the Tunapuna CID is investigating.