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Lana Galea
Vehicle Roadworthiness Test inspection stations will be fitted with CCTV systems by the end of the year, allowing Malta Transport Authority (ADT) officials to monitor the stations for any infringements, MaltaToday has discovered.
Four VRT stations have been fined Lm5,000 in the last two years, after the ADT’s technical office carried out a total of 60 random spot checks. Another station was fined Lm10,000 and had its permit revoked.
ADT has now introduced a penalty points system for VRT inspection stations. According to a transport ministry official, this system has provided “clearer” guidelines for VRT inspection stations to follow. This system has also resulted in “a code binding both sides (ADT and VRT inspection stations), which never existed before.”
The official said that the penalty points system scores VRT inspection stations “according to the severity of the infringement… point deductions are accumulative, they are not reset at the end of the year.”
In certain instances, infringements can be so severe as to result in the revocation of VRT inspection station’s permits. “For example, we have had cases where VRT inspection stations have issued VRT certificates for vehicles which they had not even seen. In such cases, permits will be revoked immediately,” the spokesperson said.
The penalty points system also provides an appeals process, allowing VRT inspection stations to challenge an infringement charge.
lgalea@mediatoday.com.mt
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