Law-abiding drivers left in a flutter over new regulation for vehicle ‘identification marks’ or simply, vehicle registration plates, can be rest assured that all benefits of the doubt will be on their side.

All registered vehicles and motorcycles in the sultanate are soon to use a revamped licence plate, having distinctly smaller alphanumeric from the ones currently in use, the Land Transport Department stated.

It yesterday received a record high in feedback from the public related to the registration plates and accreditation of approved shops, prompting the LTD to immediately convene a press conference to clarify matters, notably issues concerning the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 68) Road Traffic (Identification Marks) Regulations, 2008 and the shops approved by LTD to produce the registration plates.

The LTD Director, Awg Mohammed Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohammed Yunos, noted that the new Road Traffic Act was the amendment to the 1956 Road Traffic Enactment Chapter 68 under section 24 and 88. It was gazetted on Aug 19, 2008 and enforced on May 1 2010.

Under the new Act, any vehicle’s identification mark, whose letters shall be in accordance with the “series table” shall be subjected to the new Act, e.g. from letter B to BZZ; KA to KS, while government vehicles include BG, BX or BZ.

The director added that the new regulation is not to burden the public but to prevent any tempering of vehicle licence plate, to remove any ambiguity of previous specification for control and enforcement (introduce uniformity), to accommodate new three letter series introduced and to improve the current registration numbering licence plate system in line with Asean standards.

The major difference of the new plates, as revealed, were that the fonts are now standard ‘special typeface’ measuring 65mm high and 45mm wide for vehicles and 45mm high and 30mm wide for motorcycle.

Plate colours are the usual white on black, white on green (commercial) and red on white and will be made of aluminium for durability.

Penalties have also been changed to $1,000 for first offence, $2,000 and imprisonment not exceeding 3 months for 2nd offence. And any damages (altering or modification) not exceeding $500.

The accreditation of approved shops is to ensure specifications set in the Act, to ensure uniform plates and are temper-proof.

Some 18 companies have applied but LTD has shortlisted it to seven companies, namely Pat’ Corporation Sdn Bhd, Zen View Sdn Bhd, Bayu Ilham Motors Sdn Bhd, P.Y.B. Transportation Services, CKM Transportation Services Syarikat Shalim Sdn Bhd and Hock Motor Company. It was also noted that the LTD is in the midst of approving a number of sub-agents.

P.Y.B Transportation Services, CKM Transportation Services and Syarikat Shalim Sdn Bhd are to start services by the 2nd week of June while Pat’s Corporation would start services by the 4th week.

As for plate price, LTD has elucidated that the price is set by the companies based on cost and other factors. The “LTD believes the market competitiveness will level out the cost as no companies will want to lose in investment”.

Price increment from companies, will however, need permission from LTD.

The director did mention that prices in future is expected to be on par as the current market price for the old plates.

The Traffic Division of Royal Brunei Police Force has been briefed on the Act while car dealers have also been issued a memo from MoC on the enforcement date.

Awg Mohammed Rizal outlined that as of May 2010, newly registered vehicles and motorcycles must use the new plates, whilst during the period of May to December, vehicles already registered are encouraged to use the new plates.

The implementation of the Act will commence January 1st 2011, where action will be taken on those who have not complied.

On the issue of shops asking for blue cards, the LTD directorsaid, “We understand the situation, and it would of course be a burden to go to the bank to get the blue card in order to make new plates. Blue cards are not required in this process.”

When asked if the new plates are implanted with microchip for the purpose of tracking traffic offenders, the director brushed aside the idea responding rhetorically, “if the new plates were to have secret microchip embedded in them, then it wouldn’t be a secret anymore if the LTD reveals that it does exist,” said the director.

• Trust and responsibility
• Institute of Health Sciences geared for glory
• Prominent businessman shares secrets to success
• Tajikistan President touches down in Brunei
• Land Transport Department staff converts to Islam