By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE government is working to significantly reduce the Licensing Division’s workload of approximately 50,000 inspections annually by allowing private stations to inspect certain vehicles.
The Cabinet has approved that changes to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations Chapter 48:50 be expanded to accommodate the move which was announced by Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour on Thursday.
@azpnews.com Minister of Transport Eli Zakhour says inspection systems for motor vehicles can be done privately. Video: Prior Beharry @ttgovcomms @arrivealivett #cabinet #pressconference #transportministry #vehicleinspection #motorvehicle
Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing Zakour said currently, private vehicles with a manufactured date of five years or older registration were required to have vehicles inspected at an authorised testing station. After the first inspection, vehicles are required to be inspected every two years afterwards.
Vehciles with a manufacturing weight of three tonnes and over can be inspected only at Caroni Licensing Division.
Commercial vehicles registered “T”, “H”, “R” and others are also required to be brought in a Licensing Division compound for inspection.
Owners of commercial vehicles are required to have their vehicles inspected on an annual basis.
Zakour said, “Moving forward, vehicle testing stations will now include public hire vehicle under Section Two of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act with a tare weight not exceeding 2,270 kilograms. These will include taxis, hired cars and other passenger vehicles, licensed to carry persons for hire.”
“Two, authorising the examiners of VMCOTT to inspect all taxis, regardless of tare weight and all good vehicles exceeding 3,200 kilograms. This would immediately relieve licensing division of close to 50,000 inspections a year.”
Currently, there are 95 vehicle testing stations authorised by government to conduct vehicle inspections including three branches of the Vehicle Management Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (VMCOTT) at Beetham, San Fernando and Tobago.
Currently, VMCOTT is authorised to conduct inspections on all types of motorcycles, private vehicles with a tare weight not exceeding 2,270 kilograms and “T” Goods Motor Vehicles with a maximum gross weight (MGW) of up to 3,200 kilograms.
