The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has cautioned motorists in the country over the misuse of trade plates.
It said while some drivers continued to use expired Defective Vehicle (DV) Plates of last year (DV 2021), motor vehicles bearing trade plates were being used to carryfare-paying passengers, goods, and for hiring purposes.
“The Compliance and Enforcement team of DVLA, together with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service would step up enforcement of traffic regulations to arrest and cause the prosecution of such offenders.
“We wish to remind motorists that the law provides for severe sanctions on persons who contravene the regulations, including imprisonment,” the DVLA said in a statement issued on Friday.
It said the use of expired trade plates was contrary to Regulation 23(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation2012 (Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180) which states that “a trade licence is valid for a period of one year and only in relation to the specific motor vehicle for which the trade licence was issued”.
It said the unlawful use of motor vehicles bearing trade plates was stipulated in Regulation 23(8) which only authorise the carrying of passengers who are engaging in testing or inspecting the motor vehicle with the view of purchasing the vehicle.
It said most of the motor vehicles used under a trade plate, did not have the plates affixed on the front and rear of the vehicle, which was also an upfront to the law, specifically, Regulation 23(9) of L.I. 2180.
“Most dealers or fleet owners also fail to enter the movements of the motor vehicle in the trade licence log book as captured in Regulation 24(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I. 2180).
“Related to this observation is the use of Direct from Port (DP) plates beyond the stipulated time of two weeks. The misuse of these trade plates are prevalent during holidays,” the statement said.
The Authority urged dealers, fleet owners and the general driving public to either get valid trade plates for 2022 (DV 22) or have their vehicles registered before they ply the roads.
The DVLA took opportunity to caution road users to drive cautiously with the onset of the rains, observe road signs, and avoid careless overtaking and over-speeding to avoid needless crashes on our roads.
BY TIMES REPORTER