I contacted the CVA Department a few days ago as they are expecting me to pay €5.74 for exceeding the set free entry with just a few seconds.

According to subsidiary legislation, there is no charge if vehicles access the CVA zone after 2pm.  To receive a bill stating that you have to pay €3.28 and €2.46 for just 10 seconds and 30 seconds respectively is, to say the least, unmerited and unreasonable.

Also, their time recording method is unknown to the public and, for all I know, their computerised clock might not be synchronised with any legal time in Malta.

I never objected to settle any other CVA bills, in fact, I paid the difference immediately for this particular bill.  However, I am contesting the €5.74 billed for a few seconds.

The department is unwilling to reverse the bill and change their rigid policy and have referred me to Transport Malta to contest this bill, after pointing out that I may incur more penalties if I do so and my request is found to be ‘unjustified’. I have, nevertheless, submitted my contestation and am also directing this matter to the media because I hope Transport Malta orders the CVA team to reverse this policy of unjustly billing road users and start treating everyone justly for the benefit of all motorists who have to visit Valletta for one reason or another.