Ms MacTiernan questions the extra cost for 'dummy plates' when swapping number plates, and the Minister explains the limitations of the current computer system and plans for improvement with TRELIS.

AnsweredQoN 111Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 August 2000
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

(2) Will the Minister confirm that these dummy plates are destroyed after the original plates are put in place? (3) Will the Minister advise why people who bring their car to the Licensing Centre are not able to simply change their plates over with incurring the extra cost for the dummy plates (4) Is it because that is how the Department s computer system is set up? Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
17 October 2000
Response time
69 days
(1) There is only one charge of $13.15 that applies where a set of personalised plates is transferred to another vehicle. (2)-(4) Transport's current computer system has limitations in terms of accommodating the swapping of number plates between vehicles. A number plate is the key identifier of a vehicle and the computer system will not accept the swapping of that identifier between two active records. Where a vehicle licensee wishes to exchange plates between two vehicles owned by that person, a "dummy plate number" is required to be allocated to facilitate acceptance of the changes on the computer system. No actual "dummy plates" should be issued in these instances. However, Transport has become aware that there have been isolated instances where actual plates have been issued to enable the computer system to accept the plate swap and a fee for the plates was charged. These plates were removed from circulation and the plate material is ultimately recycled. Where such cases are identified, the fee paid will be refunded. Transport has arranged the issue of an Instruction to all Transport Licensing Centres and Agents to reinforce the correct procedures. Transport is currently addressing the existing computing system limitations as part of the development of a Transport Executive and Licensing Information System (TRELIS). The new system will have more flexible applications that will enable transactions such as number plate swaps to be readily accommodated.
(3) Will the Minister advise why people who bring their car to the Licensing Centre are not able to simply change their plates over with incurring the extra cost for the dummy plates (4) Is it because that is how the Department s computer system is set up? Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) There is only one charge of $13.15 that applies where a set of personalised plates is transferred to another vehicle. (2)-(4) Transport's current computer system has limitations in terms of accommodating the swapping of number plates between vehicles. A number plate is the key identifier of a vehicle and the computer system will not accept the swapping of that identifier between two active records. Where a vehicle licensee wishes to exchange plates between two vehicles owned by that person, a "dummy plate number" is required to be allocated to facilitate acceptance of the changes on the computer system. No actual "dummy plates" should be issued in these instances. However, Transport has become aware that there have been isolated instances where actual plates have been issued to enable the computer system to accept the plate swap and a fee for the plates was charged. These plates were removed from circulation and the plate material is ultimately recycled. Where such cases are identified, the fee paid will be refunded. Transport has arranged the issue of an Instruction to all Transport Licensing Centres and Agents to reinforce the correct procedures. Transport is currently addressing the existing computing system limitations as part of the development of a Transport Executive and Licensing Information System (TRELIS). The new system will have more flexible applications that will enable transactions such as number plate swaps to be readily accommodated.
(4) Is it because that is how the Department s computer system is set up? Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) There is only one charge of $13.15 that applies where a set of personalised plates is transferred to another vehicle. (2)-(4) Transport's current computer system has limitations in terms of accommodating the swapping of number plates between vehicles. A number plate is the key identifier of a vehicle and the computer system will not accept the swapping of that identifier between two active records. Where a vehicle licensee wishes to exchange plates between two vehicles owned by that person, a "dummy plate number" is required to be allocated to facilitate acceptance of the changes on the computer system. No actual "dummy plates" should be issued in these instances. However, Transport has become aware that there have been isolated instances where actual plates have been issued to enable the computer system to accept the plate swap and a fee for the plates was charged. These plates were removed from circulation and the plate material is ultimately recycled. Where such cases are identified, the fee paid will be refunded. Transport has arranged the issue of an Instruction to all Transport Licensing Centres and Agents to reinforce the correct procedures. Transport is currently addressing the existing computing system limitations as part of the development of a Transport Executive and Licensing Information System (TRELIS). The new system will have more flexible applications that will enable transactions such as number plate swaps to be readily accommodated.
Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) There is only one charge of $13.15 that applies where a set of personalised plates is transferred to another vehicle. (2)-(4) Transport's current computer system has limitations in terms of accommodating the swapping of number plates between vehicles. A number plate is the key identifier of a vehicle and the computer system will not accept the swapping of that identifier between two active records. Where a vehicle licensee wishes to exchange plates between two vehicles owned by that person, a "dummy plate number" is required to be allocated to facilitate acceptance of the changes on the computer system. No actual "dummy plates" should be issued in these instances. However, Transport has become aware that there have been isolated instances where actual plates have been issued to enable the computer system to accept the plate swap and a fee for the plates was charged. These plates were removed from circulation and the plate material is ultimately recycled. Where such cases are identified, the fee paid will be refunded. Transport has arranged the issue of an Instruction to all Transport Licensing Centres and Agents to reinforce the correct procedures. Transport is currently addressing the existing computing system limitations as part of the development of a Transport Executive and Licensing Information System (TRELIS). The new system will have more flexible applications that will enable transactions such as number plate swaps to be readily accommodated.

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