By year’s end every vehicle on the nation’s roads will have to be equipped with a new high-tech number plate which will only be issued by the Motor Vehicle Authority, says Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner.

Warner said this new number plate will have a special micro chip which will help in the fight against crime as police would be able to quickly access vehicle and owner information.

In addition, these new plates will allow police to catch those who break traffic laws and therefore parking tickets, tickets for breaking the red light, etc, will be mailed to the owner of the vehicle.

The plates, he said, will come complete with Radio Frequency Identification (RFI) which will allow police to read them from 30 feet away.

Warner spoke of the modernisation and transformation of the Licensing Authority which will now be known as the Motor Vehicle Authority and which will be completed by the end of November.

He acknowledged that this plan was initiated by his predecessor, former transport minister Colm Imbert.

Warner said the cost for this initiative currently stood at $120 million for new hardware and software as well as professional services.

The cost to relocate the head office to Frederick Settlement is yet to be determined.

He assured that no jobs will be lost in the transformation process.

Warner said the new licence plate will be manufactured by a foreign company and issued only by the Motor Vehicle Authority.

He said the plates, which could be customised, will come in 16 different classifications including private, commercial, new/used vehicle dealers, off road, trailers, construction among others.

New drivers licences will also be issued under the new system.

Warner said sub-offices will be located in Port of Spain, Arima, Sangre Grande, Rio Claro, Princes Town, Chaguanas, Tobago, Siparia and Point Fortin.

He added that legislation to ban cell phones while driving is also in the cards.

Source [Trinidad Express]