Misuse Of Trade Licence Plates

 By ASP Effie Tenge

The use of Trade licence plates – the DP and DV – has become a fashion in recent times. It is possible to count at least three unregistered motor vehicles among every 10 on our streets today. As some have conspicuously affixed the trade licence plate, either at the front or rear of their vehicles, others carelessly display it inside the vehicle with impunity, making it obscure to other road users.

For some, a number plate cannot be spotted anywhere on or around the unregistered vehicle. This practice makes one wonder whether people are conversant with the laws regulating the use of trade licence plates or are being recalcitrant.

One's knowledge or ignorance of the law is immaterial; what matters is the fact that laws are made to constantly regulate the activities of people and therefore must be respected and made to work. The rate at which road traffic laws and regulations are flagrantly abused must be stopped.  By so doing, the increasing spate of road accidents which are gradually becoming a ritual, could be reduced.

It is the dream of every up-and-coming young person to own a personal vehicle in order to ease his or her commuting difficulties or challenges. In the same way, a vehicle when purchased or cleared from the ports, cannot be used in a private compound or premises but must be used on the public roads or streets – where all motorists have equal access and right.  At this point, road laws and regulations become necessary to regulate activities accordingly.

Motor vehicles, by the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) cannot be owned or driven unless that particular vehicle is registered.  Once the vehicle is registered it is assigned a unique number which can be used in identifying the vehicle. However, the laws also prescribe certain instances where unregistered vehicles could ply the roads – but before then, it is required to have a special plate called the trade licence plate – defective vehicle (DV) and direct from port (DP) – to be affixed to the front and rear of that vehicle.

DP And DV Number Plates
DP (Direct vehicle from the Port) and DV (Defective Vehicle) trade licence plates are issued by the Licensing Authority to (1) manufacturer of motor vehicles (2) tester of motor vehicles (3) Motor vehicle trader (3) fleet owner or (4) licensed trade plate dealer.

For emphasis, DP is to only assist in transporting a vehicle from the port to the house or a garage. When it is issued to an unregistered vehicle which has just been imported or manufactured, it has a grace period of two weeks to be duly registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). If for any reason the vehicle was unable to be registered – maybe due to intentions to trade the vehicle – then it has to be changed to a DV plate which has a validity period of one month specifically, from 1 st to 31 st December in each calendar year.

Under what circumstances can trade licence plates be used?

Where a motor vehicle has been off-loaded from a ship, freighter or train and is being driven to the dealer's place of business or fleet owner;

Where a motor vehicle is being tested after it has been received, assembled or repaired at the dealer's place of business or the fleet owner;

Where a motor vehicle is being tried by or on behalf of an intended purchaser;

Where a motor vehicle under repair is being transferred from or to another place where the dealer or fleet owner carries on his business

Where the motor vehicle which has been repaired is being delivered by the dealer to the fleet owner concerned.

Under no circumstance should a trade licence plate be used for any other purpose.

Log Book
In using the trade licence plate, it is mandatory for the user to use a Log Book in which appropriate information on the trade licence displayed regarding movements of the vehicle, shall be entered.

It has been observed that users of trade licence plates hardly know the laws governing their use. These motorists often find themselves at the wrong side of the law and always plead with law enforcers to be pardoned.  Also information available to those who claim to know the laws regulating their use is very scanty.

Prohibition
The Road Traffic Act 2004 (Act 683) prohibits users of trade licence plates from carrying (1) passengers (2) goods (3) for hire or reward (4)  passengers who are not engaged in testing the motor vehicle or inspecting the it  with the intention to purchase that vehicle.

The Act further prohibits the use of trade plates for social activities such as (1) funerals, (2) weddings (3) carrying of children to and from school, family, relatives and friends (4) church (5) mosque (6) routine office and business duties, travelling on a journey not related to the business of testing or transporting to the dealers or fleet owner's place of business.

Again, since trade licence plates are supposed to be used within business hours, where the vehicle is either on trial, under repair or any other similar purposes, using these special plates outside business hours - 6:00 am to 7:00 pm may be very suspicious which can cause the user's  arrest. Moreover, its use after 6:00 pm poses security challenges as such vehicles, when used in committing crimes, become difficult to trace.

Since we all appreciate and desire to drive on stress-free roads at all times, it is incumbent on us to observe and adhere to the very laws created to achieve this desired serenity on our roads.

 By ASP Effie Tenge
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