Licensing crackdown begins Tuesday

Police and licence officers are expected to be on the streets from Tuesday for a thorough inspection of vehicles, in order to charge drivers for non-compliance of motor laws such as defective vehicle parts. As many as 250,000 to 300,000 motor vehicles are mandated for inspection biennially and in some cases, annually. In light of this, president of the Association of Vehicle Inspection Stations (AVIS), Phillip Greaves, is calling for the inspection of all vehicles to be done annually, instead of biennially. There are 72 registered inspection stations throughout the country. AVIS comprises a group of proprietors from the Vehicle Testing Stations, who carry out inspections on private vehicles and motor cycles five years and older from the year of manufacture, biennially, under Legal Notice 197 of 1999. Speaking with Sunday Newsday, Greaves pointed out that internationally, all vehicles, including light weights, are done annually.

“By having motor vehicle inspections annually, TT would keep up with international standards,” he said. He pointed out that annual inspection will also ensure that all vehicles be more roadworthy, as they would have gone through the inspection procedure and passed. According to Greaves, a large number of vehicular accidents are caused by  defective vehicles on the nation’s roads. He said motor larceny is aiding and abetting in kidnappings and robbery get-aways. He described defective vehicles as those which have faults, such as parts and components that are damaged, broken, abnormal, or simply not functioning according to a manufacturer’s specifications, and also owners not in possession of relative documents such as certified copy or valid insurance. “I have come to realise that many road accidents have causes, they just don’t happen. Vehicles do not simply get out of control, but are driven out of control by reckless, careless drivers, most times driving a defective vehicle and most cases may cause not just accidents but fatal crashes,” Greaves said.

He referred to last week’s accident in which three people died instantly after the vehicle in which they were travelling crashed into a bus on the North Coast Road. A subsequent report showed that the vehicle had a defective  part. In a statement, AVIS listed several causes of accidents, including, speeding (with a defective vehicle - inefficient brakes, tyres without treads, worn parts and defective alignment), driving intoxicated and under the influence of hallucinogens, blurred vision by persons who are mandated to drive with tested eye glasses but do not, not being vigilant on the road, use of cell phones while driving resulting in lack of concentration, disobeying road safety rules, regulations and road signs, as well as tired-ness/sleepiness. Greaves felt that police and licensing officers do not check up on identification closely enough for people who are mandated to wear eye-glasses. Drivers who are mandated from the Licencing Authority to wear eye-glasses while driving and do not result in wrong judgments, Greaves stated. He stated that AVIS can assist the police and licence officers in the area of crime, such as motor larceny. Greaves said most times during road blocks, the driver would be asked for driver’s permit and an insurance certificate and when verified, allowed to proceed.

However, he pointed out that with this system, police and licensing officers are unable to really detect a vehicle which was stolen, or one which had a false license plate. “A driver can get a licence plate anywhere and the number easily certified with an insurance company. Some motorists, especially those who are in the motor larceny business, have several licence plates tucked away in their trucks and can change them randomly anytime,” he explained. Greaves felt that the best way to crack down on motor larceny, is to check the seal/sticker of the certificate of inspection which, if duplicated, can be easily detected. “Only the true owner of a vehicle would have the original seal of the certificate of inspection,” he said. According to the law, a person who uses an inspection sticker or an inspection certificate, without authorisation, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for one year and a fine of $15,000.