Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development, and Urban Renewal, Stephenson King says unregulated licence plates continue to pose a challenge to law enforcement.
“The proliferation of a variety of fonts, plate sizes and colours are non-compliant with legislation and international standards,” King stated during Friday’s parliamentary debate on the Appropriation Bill.
The minister’s concern echoes sentiments shared by Kingson Jean, Vice President of the National Association of Driving Schools (NADS), in an interview with St Lucia Times last year.
Jean highlighted the issue of non-standard plates, saying, “I see a lot of minibuses and taxis with number plates covered in plastic, making it hard to see the number, especially at night.”
He also pointed to the use of cursive lettering, which often renders licence plates illegible. This, he warned, could hinder identification in the event of a collision or crime. Jean called for greater enforcement by authorities.
During his presentation, King noted that efforts by the police to encourage compliance with licence plate regulations are often met with public resistance.
He further revealed that the Department of Infrastructure has received complaints from vehicle owners whose licence numbers have been duplicated and used on other vehicles.
“Persons are generating their own number plates. They’re using it conveniently to participate in illegal activities and otherwise. And when checked, it is a number plate that is registered in someone else’s name,” he said.
King explained that previous efforts to reinforce the specifications and importance of licence legislation through public announcements were halted after appeals were made against them, though he did not specify from whom. However, the transport minister intends to revive the issue at the Cabinet level.
“I’ll be going back to Cabinet with this matter, Mr Speaker, to get Cabinet’s approval … so as to move on and get this matter resolved once and for all,” King said.
A situation of the government’s own making! They allowed anyone to have virtually any name, word or letters on so called private number plates, and now they’re complaining about it. Didn’t they see that coming? Some of these plates are indecipherable, and many are so juvenile. These ‘private’ plates should be discontinued and all number plates should be standardized. You cannot have one set of people following the requirements for number plates while the other set, because they pay, having what they want.
King have more problems than solutions. Something is always coming..
That is the government’s fault (all administration’s). Licence plates should be issued BY the government – not just the numbers, but the actual plates TOGETHER with the licence sticker, if relevant.
It is time for the government to regulate government issued licence plates, and not leave such to private citizens to issue – so shut up and do your civic duty!
It is good to see the police cracking down on such a wide variety of offenses. On Easter Monday, I saw a slew of tickets being put on vehicles parked ON THE SIDEWALK along the waterfront. That brought so much joy to my heart. Too much lawlessness has been allowed to fester here for too long. Law breakers have been emboldened. The police force have found their mojo back and I for one am happy.
A a what’s new…talk talk only
And what about the condition of the roads ?
Looking at everything else but the condition of the roads ..smfh