Demo plate disorder - Motorists put at risk as cops point to cases of misuse

There are concerns that some motorists have been running afoul of the law by using demonstration plates in a manner that contravenes the regulations governing their usage.

“They are misusing the plates. Some of them don’t even know the rules that govern the use of those plates,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Winchester Watson, head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Traffic Division in the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch.

Demonstration plates are blue and are commonly called car dealership plates. These plates are used for showcasing vehicles to customers, moving vehicles from bond stores to dealerships, and for promotional purposes such as automobile shows. The plates, DC for vehicles designated cars, and DT for trucks, are obtained from Tax Administration Jamaica offices.

“The vehicle using the DC plate should also have a cover note … most of them, it’s a cover note … not really a certificate, but it should have insurance, so two documents that must accompany the plate are the fitness and the insurance,” he said.

At times, checks by the police have shown that the documents do not match the specific car being driven. This, Watson said, is a ticketable offence and the vehicle can also be seized.

TICKETABLE OFFENCE

“From time to time, police have issued tickets to persons operating a vehicle with demonstration plates,” he said.

“I know it is a practice for them to just put on a plate and drive from place to place, but I couldn’t say they are abusing it. Sometimes I wonder if it is a lack of knowledge or people just taking a chance, but, from time to time, there are persons who run afoul of the law using DC plates,” the senior cop confirmed.

One motorist, who wished not to be identified, told The Sunday Gleaner that there appear to be too many loopholes relating to the use of the demonstration plates and she fears that this places other road users at risk.

“I have had an experience with one who hit my vehicle and the individual was trying to tell me that I was wrong,” she said.

She said that she was the one who had to advise the errant driver about the rules governing the use of the plate.

“At the end of the day, there was nothing that the person could do for me because it is just a demonstration plate,” said the motorist.

“There is not much to get unless you are going to claim from your insurance, so it is a cost borne by you,” she added, fuming.

She said that there should be greater monitoring of the documents carried by these drivers to ensure that the insurance is up to date, so that motorists can have some recourse in the event that there is an accident involving one of the vehicles.

“They drive really terrible on the road and there is no accountability, because they hit the vehicle and there is not necessarily any insurance for you to go and claim on. They pay a flat fee to have access to the plate on a yearly basis, and that’s about it,” she said.

Lynvale Hamilton, president of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association, said dealers generally secure a fitness certificate for each car and have each plate insured so that individuals can claim in the event of an accident. He believes that car dealers are coming under too much pressure because of the use of demo plates.

“I have heard reports where dealers are stopped and told that they should not have it out of working hours. That’s rubbish,” he said.

“You hear all sorts of stories that you shouldn’t be demonstrating the vehicle at night. People don’t drive at night?” he asked.

He said some car dealers allow customers to utilise the demonstration plate for as long as two weeks so they can get a feel of the vehicle before purchase.

“Whether he wants to drive it home, he wants to drive it to the country, whatever he wants to do with it, except, he is not to drive it for rental, he is not to use it for taxi purpose or carrying goods for hire. That’s what the regulation says,” Hamilton argued.

nadine.wilson@gleanerjm.com.