The Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Eastern Regional Police Command is impounding both new and home used vehicles without DV or DP plates affixed on them contrary to regulation 23(9) of the road traffic regulation 2012 L. I 2180.
The exercise being carried on across the country is also targeting drivers who use a motor vehicle without third-party motor vehicle insurance contrary to section 1(1) (2) of the third party motor insurance act 1958 No 48.
Dozens of vehicles have been impounded by the MTTD.
Five of the suspects were put before Koforidua District magistrates court (A) presided over by His Worship Osei Assibey Esq.
They pleaded guilty and were fined Ghc 600.00 each.
Speaking to the media in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional MTTD Commander Chief Superintendent Stephen Ahiatafu explained that, “we had a directive from National Headquarters to conduct the exercise on vehicles that are being used in our roads without any number plates especially the new vehicles.”
He continued “if you are using a new vehicle our home used vehicle you are supposed to use Defective Vehicle (DV) Plate on it. It is from Port you must put direct from Port on it (DP). But of late what we have realized is that those vehicles are being driven in town without any number plate. Now the implications are many If this vehicle knocks down a pedestrian there is no way out we can locate that vehicle. Again if this vehicle has been snatched by criminals the owner cannot locate it. If the vehicle involves in crime it will be difficult for the police to trace the vehicle. So we have started this exercise to ensure that a vehicle without a normal registration plate you must fix the DV Plate in front and back of the vehicle”
He said most of the drivers arrested were unqualified to drive “When we started the exercise we realized that some of the drivers do not even have a license, some of them bare even learners, even some of the plates expired since 2020, some of them do not have insurance coverage so this exercise is unrelenting we shall continue till the system is sanitized”.
The MTTD commander said the exercise will not stop therefore urged motorists to comply with the law.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
