DVLA New numbers

THE introduction of unique number plates for motorbikes is to curb the activities of criminals who fix the number plates of motorbikes on cars for criminal activities, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has explained.
The Greater Accra Regional Licensing Officer, Mr Abraham Tettey, told the Daily Graphic that there had been instances when criminals had affixed number plates of motorbikes on cars for criminal activities, making it difficult for the police to identify particular cars that were used for the crimes.
He added that using the same number plates for both motorbikes and vehicles also exhausted the number plates too quickly.
Mr Tettey said under the new arrangement, the old number plates of motorbikes would be changed for new ones when their owners went to renew their road worthiness certificates, a marked departure from what pertained in the past when all the number plates were changed during a particular period, putting pressure on the DVLA.
“However, those who want to change their number plates before their road worthiness certificates expire can do so,” he added.
Mr Tettey indicated that in January this year the DVLA registered 571 motorbikes, 716 in February and 892 in March, bringing the number to 2,179 as of the end of March.
He appealed to the general public to stop patronising the activities of agents who, according to him, charged huge sums of money from the people for the services they provided.
He said the authority had, with the help of the Information Services Department, mounted an information van on the premises of the DVLA to educate the general public on its operations.
That, he said, was in the short term, adding, “We are putting up our own public address system to provide information for clients who come to the yard.”
In addition, he said, the DVLA had set up a customer service department to provide client services for the public.
Some clients and would-be clients of the DVLA who spoke to the Daily Graphic lauded the innovations and indicated that they were in line with practices elsewhere.
They, however, urged the authority to make its services faster, as the long hours spent in processing documents accounted for the use of agents.