Be careful -- you could 'void' your licence sticker

MOTORISTS might be surprised to know that if the licence disc (sticker) is not properly affixed to a windscreen, it is advisable to leave it in place, for if the sticker is removed it automatically becomes void and attracts a $500 fee, payable to the Inland Revenue Department, to have it replaced.

Last week, in an Observer Tell Claudienne report, a motorist was taken aback when the word VOID appeared repeatedly on a licence sticker after it was removed from the windscreen to be straightened.

That astonished motorist is however not alone as none of the scores of motorists checked by Auto subsequent to the report had knowledge of the security feature.

Leighton Beckles, head of communication at the Inland Revenue Department, told Auto however that the feature has been in place since last year July.

"We had an extensive public relations campaign to introduce the feature," he said. "I am surprised that people are saying that."

According to Beckles, the void factor became necessary because unscrupulous persons were removing the licence stickers from vehicles and affixing them to others.

"There are unscrupulous elements out there that are always testing the system. People are more exposed to technology and they are always doing things," Beckles told Auto.

"We found that there were loopholes and we moved quickly by putting in an enhanced licence disc," he said, adding that once the sticker is affixed to a surface if it is removed the word void is displayed prominently.

He cautioned motorists against trying to tamper with the disc once it is affixed to the vehicle.

The Inland Revenue's decision, however, adversely affects people involved in accidents or need to have their windscreens replaced for whatever reason.

"If you got into an accident and the windscreen is broken you will end up paying the $500 fine," Beckles confirmed.

He said that the Inland Revenue conducts regular stress tests of its systems to identify weak spots in the operations to determine how they may be compromised.

Beckles added that the void factor assisted the police in carrying out their duties.

Motorists, in the meantime, have commented that a warning should have been placed on the stickers alerting unsuspecting individuals about the security measure.

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