‘There was a lot of push back in using technology but today I can say that the Licensing Office is on the way and driving that whole process of engaging technology in the government service’ – Rohan Sinanan
By Prior Beharry
VERY soon you can renew your driver’s permit and transfer your vehicle online.
This according to Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan at the launch of the Electronic Vehicle System (EVIS) at Sookhai’s Diesel Services (SDS) in Chaguanas on Friday.
He said the process of computerising the system at Licensing Office started in 2008 “and for some strange reason,” it was stopped in 2011.
Sinanan said it has started back in 2018 and was now about 95% completed.
He said, “Very soon almost all the services at Licensing Office will be done online.”
Sinanan said, “Licensing Office has moved from zero to being the hero in embracing technology in the public sector.”
He said, “There was a lot of push back in using technology but today I can say that the Licensing Office is on the way and driving that whole process of engaging technology in the government service.”
The minister stressed the importance of carrying a utility bill to verify one’s address when getting a driver’s permit since people can now pay for a certified copy online.
Sinanan said soon the public would be able to pay for drivers’ permits and transfer vehicles online.
EVIS accountability
Regarding the EVIS system, he said it would allow for a faster way to inspect vehicles with accountability.
Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke said the EVIS also allowed for transparency and data validation.
He said vehicles that have been inspected will have their information available to licensing officers and to police and traffic wardens.
Clarke said, therefore, a law enforcement officer will be able to verify on the road whether a vehicle is properly registered and if it has the correct licence plate number.
He said inspected vehicles if not on the system, whether duplicated or with false number plate, will be identified.
Device Costs $15,000
Clarke said that when a vehicle goes for inspection it could determine if there are any sanctions on the vehicle such as an outstanding ticket. He said the vehicle will not be allowed to be inspected once this matter was outstanding.
Sinanan said there would be demerit points for not being registered.
Richie Sookhai, of SDS, said the EVIS will stamp out corruption that was embedded in the system.
He said it would also eliminate paper clutter and lead to an eco-friendly environment.
Sookhai said the system was linked to the Licensing Office.
Sinanan said each inspection garage will have to purchase a device for about $15,000.
He said there are about 65 inspection sites in the country currently and the ministry wants to make that about 125 by the end of May.
Hybrid inspection system in the meantime
Sinanan said garages that wanted to become registered with the EVIS could apply online.
He said that it cost about $1million dollars to have the system in place at all licensing offices at Port of Spain, San Fernando, Chaguanas and Arima.
Clarke said there will continue to be a hybrid system where both manual and electronic inspections will be done until the system was fully computerised.
He said there were about 1.1 million vehicles registered in the country since the first one with licence plate number P1.
Clarke said it was difficult to state how many cars were actually on the road since cars out of service were not deregistered.
He said when the EVIS gets fully up and running there would be a better idea of how many vehicles were on the nation’s roads.
The cost for an inspection for a car remains at $300 and Sinanan said there were no immediate plans to increase this figure nor the margin for garages.
