Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
459. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the steps being taken to address the proliferation of illegal vehicle registration plates on motor cars; the number of successful prosecutions secured for failure to comply with vehicle registration plate regulations in each of the past ten years to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19575/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by Revenue that Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 318 of 1992, Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations (as amended by S.I. No. 542 of 2012) prescribes the format, lettering, dimensions and technical specifications of registration plates to be displayed on vehicles in the State. It is an offence to display the wrong registration number on a vehicle or to display the registration number in the incorrect format and a person convicted of such an offence is liable to a fine of up to €5,000. Revenue officers and members of An Garda Síochána have powers to stop vehicles to check compliance with registration plate requirements and other VRT matters.
There have been no prosecutions initiated by Revenue for failure to comply with the vehicle registration plate regulations in the past ten years. I am informed by Revenue that the priority activities on checkpoints are the management of risks in relation to excise duties including evasion of Vehicle Registration Tax and misuse of marked mineral oil. I am further informed by Revenue that the National Car Test (NCT) includes checks on the security, location, format, legibility, visibility, and colour of a vehicle’s registration plates.
Non-compliance with any prescribed vehicle registration plate requirement is recorded as a “major defect” under the NCT and a vehicle displaying non-compliant registration plates will fail the test.
While the format of the number plate is regulated, there are no controls or regulations in relation to the manufacture of such plates. This is a matter that has been considered by Revenue, but it is considered that such controls would not be effective given the simplicity and widespread availability of the technology for manufacturing number plates.
I am satisfied that the measures in place provide an appropriate deterrent to non-compliance with the regulations on registration plates.
