THE EDITOR, Sir:
I write in relation to the poor quality of licence plates sold to the public. I own and operate a company, which operates several motor vehicles. The company is faced with replacing several of the licence plates, which were acquired over the last three- four years. In almost all instances, the plates have faded dramatically, while others have both faded and disintegrated. It is clear that mere vibrations adversely affect the life of the licence plates.
Lately, the police appear to have stepped up their campaign against drivers with defective plates. Police actions have taken the form of warnings, prosecutions and even confiscation. The bottom-line to any of these police actions is the loss of productive time, a commodity which most businesses can ill-afford, as this translates into a loss of money.
INSULT TO INJURY
To add insult to injury, a set of replacement plates costs $2,000. If you wish to retain your original numbers, a two-month wait is required. Someone purchasing plates for the first time pays $1,500. This is most unfair, given the inferior quality of the plates originally supplied. The cost should be reversed in view of the inevitability of both the new purchase and the replacement. The obsolescence existing in the poor quality of the plates should be ample consideration for a lower price than the original.
The inconvenience, dislocation and cost that would result from having to take plates with entirely new numbers are another matter. Such a change would affect a company's internal records, insurance certificates and the lettering on most vehicles.
It is not difficult to see why the owners of motor vehicles may feel victimised.
I am, etc.,
H.E. BOGUES
hbogues@cwjamaica.com
Kingston 5
