This week we have a very encouraging message on this issue. As regular readers may know, Gianfranco Selvaggi, chief executive of the Transport Authority (ADT), promised to update us on the revised procedure. He has kept his promise. Here follows his encouraging message:
As promised I am now in a position to update you on a new procedure involving a revised 'discrepancy form' so as to eliminate the bureaucracy and unnecessary inconvenience as reported several times in your column and for which one is subjected to in cases involving vehicles with illegible engine numbers. This revised 'discrepancy form' is the result of collaborative discussions between the Police and ADT technical personnel.
From May 16 (tomorrow) we will supply all Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (VRT) stations with copies of this new form to replace the current form.
Thus, VRT stations will be able to proceed with the VRT Testing and Roadworthiness Vehicle Certification without the delays caused by having to send the car owner to the Licensing and Testing Department (LTD) who in turn had to send the owner to the police, then back to the VRT station, and then back to the LTD.
Now the client will sign a discrepancy form (in four carbon copies) at the VRT station of which, besides his own, s/he will have two copies marked Police and the Malta Transport Authority (ADT). These forms will be released and handed to the LTD upon registering the vehicle.
The LTD will pass the police copy's form to the police. Subsequently, within five working days, the vehicle owner will contact the police to set an agreed appointment date, so that the vehicle can be inspected and, if necessary, given a new engine number.
While removing the bureaucracy, the onus is now on the consumer to stick to these timeframes. Hence the inspection with the police must be done after registration is effected and before the next registration is due the following year (within 12 months). Failure to do so will not allow the consumer to renew his/her car registration licence.
One important thing we have included in this new procedure is that it is not only applicable to the illegibility of the engine number but it can also be applicable to the illegibility of a chassis number too.
Moreover, VRT stations will not be precluded from continuing with the process in cases where the customer and his car show signs of suspicion. Such cases would be referred directly to the ADT and the police, who will take action immediately.
Hence this system is truly for bona fide car owners, who have not tampered with their cars or engines. (Gianfranco Selvaggi)
Further to this letter, Mr Selvaggi informed me that this week they plan to have the stationery printed for this revised discrepancy form and which will have a declaration overleaf, "to be filled and signed by the registered owner of a vehicle of which the engine/chassis number is illegible".
The declaration reads:
I, the undersigned, holder of ID/passport No... and the registered owner of motor vehicle (registration number), hereby declare that, to my knowledge, the vehicle's engine/chassis has not been changed and the engine/chassis number has not been tampered with prior to the Vehicle Roadworthiness Test being carried out on the said vehicle today (date) at (testing station).
I further declare and hereby agree that, when renewing the vehicle licence, I shall present this form to the Licensing and Testing Directorate of ADT confirming that the engine/chassis number of the vehicle has been certified by the Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing Station as being illegible. I shall undertake to contact the police (Stolen Vehicle Section - tel: 2294-2279, 2122-4001), within five working days, who will in turn advise me of an appointment date and time so as to take the said vehicle for inspection and action as required.
I understand that verification of the said vehicle engine/chassis number by the police (Stolen Vehicle Section) must be done prior to the next road licence renewal or prior to transferring the vehicle to another person or any other transaction, as the case may be. I understand also that LTD would not approve the transfer of my vehicle unless the engine/chassis number has been verified and cleared by the police authorities.
These forms will be distributed to VRT station operators tomorrow during a meeting for the purpose, which has been set up by the ADT to brief all VRT stations to ensure that the new procedure is clearly understood. On Wednesday the new procedure will be applicable.
I must yet again thank Mr Selvaggi for his co-operation. Indeed his co-operation in this campaign was full straight away, and it seems that our fourth campaign could very well prove to be our shortest one.