Police impound 342 unlicensed vehicles

Emelia Ennin Abbey Dec - 30 - 2014 , 03:40

The Accra Regional Police Command yesterday impounded 342 unlicensed vehicles in an operation to clamp down on the use of those vehicles in criminal activities.

Four unregistered motorbikes were also impounded during the operation, which was conducted simultaneously at Dansoman, Nima, Kpeshie, Tesano, Madina, Kaneshie and Accra Central.

The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, told newsmen that the operation was part of end-of-year security arrangements to reduce crime.

Charges

He said owners of the vehicles and the motorbikes were being processed for court for various charges.

He explained that the use of DV and DP number plates had a limited period and number of persons those vehicles could take.

He said the use of vehicles with DV number plates had become fashionable, especially at weddings, funerals, church activities, among other occasions, but indicated that that practice was against road traffic regulations.

Don’t drive after 7 p.m.

Mr Yohuno stated that in accordance with the Road Traffic Act (2004), a trade licence could be used when a motor vehicle had been offloaded from a ship and was being driven to the garage.

The unlicensed number plate could also be used when a vehicle was being tested or tried by a prospective buyer.

“The use of a trade licence for any journey not related to the business of testing or transporting to the dealer or fleet owner’s place of business is prohibited,” he said.

Additionally, he said, driving the car outside the business hours of between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. was also an offence.

Mr Yohuno said using those vehicles was wrong, since criminal activities such as the snatching of mobile phones and bags, armed robbery had sometimes been committed with those vehicles.

The Accra Regional Police Commander said public education on the need for vehicle owners to properly register their vehicles had not been heeded to, hence the operation to rid the system of all unregistered vehicles and motorbikes.

He stressed that the exercise would be sustained till the practice was curbed.

Writer’s email: emelia.ennin@graphic.com.gh