Transport Division’s upgrade would eliminate fraud

The Transport Division’s Permits and Vehicle Registration Information System, which should have been near completion by now, has been delayed for several months. The introduction of the new-look permits and vehicle number plates was originally scheduled to begin last year.

According to sources, the project is aimed at cracking down on fraud which is costing the Transport Division millions of dollars in revenue annually. It is also aimed at streamlining and modernising operations, making the Division more user-friendly and secure and bringing Trinidad and Tobago’s road transport sector in line with the United Nations’ standards introduced in the aftermath of 9/11.

Plans to computerise the Division have been on the drawing board for several years. It is among proposals mentioned in the Manning administration’s 2001-2003 Medium-Term Policy Framework. In his 2003-2004 Budget presentation, Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced that the system would be introduced "over the next two years."

In addition, back in 2002, former Transport Commissioner Nathaniel Douglas, who recently retired, spoke about plans for the high-tech system. In April of that year, Douglas announced that within ten months the new personalised number plates and driver’s permits would have been issued at a minimal cost to the public. Queuing up to renew drivers’ permits would be a thing of the past.

The new number plates, he explained, were intended to address the numerous problems which caused the Transport Division to lose millions of dollars in revenue through fraud. He said the current number plate system makes it easy for unscrupulous dealers to defraud the Government of as much as $70,000 for every bogus motor vehicle transaction.

The current system also facilitates other criminal activities, allowing car thieves and bandits to acquire false number plates for stolen vehicles.

A security expert confirmed to Sunday Newsday that this is a gaping loophole in the country’s vehicle registration system which is regularly exploited to facilitate kidnappings, robberies and the range of violent crimes in which stolen vehicles, complete with false number plates, are used.

The new plates will effectively wipe out these illicit activities since they would have hologram security markings and would be issued and installed only through the Transport Division. With the proposed computerised system, stolen vehicles would, by simply pressing a button, be quickly and easily identified since all vehicle number plates would be linked to the Division’s overall computer system. In dealing with crime the new system would prove invaluable.

The system would also weed out any illicit practices carried out with drivers’ permits. The existing permits can be tampered with but the computer-generated permits would have several high-tech security features, including bar codes, magnetic strips and hologram security markings. Once fully implemented, the system is expected to provide up-to-date information in vehicle registration numbers, as well as colours and types of vehicles, date of registrations and records. Data can be retrieved from the system by simply entering a vehicle licence number. The pertinent data is immediately accessed and displayed. This will significantly speed up the time of transactions at the Transport Division.

UN agencies are involved in several development projects in this country with the aim of fostering and enhancing democratic governance and social development. Funds, which are partially provided by Government are mobilised and managed by the relevant UN agency, which acts as a "development partner" throughout the projects. However, in this instance the differences that have arisen are causes of great concern.