The drafting of a law to adjust the Motor Vehicle Inspection Ordinance by Member of Parliament (MP) Rolando Brison (see Friday/Saturday edition) is interesting. His stated goals are to improve heavy equipment inspection and for 70% of inspection fees, car rental tax and motor vehicle tax to go directly to the Road Fund.
That’s legally now supposed to be the case only for the latter by 100%, but does not occur in practice. The United People’s (UP) Party leader correctly said this is not realistic either, as expenses for managing, administrating and collecting the tax must also be covered.
The picture is less clear regarding the biannual vehicle inspection, for which all motorists now pay the same NAf. 35. Brison wants more appropriate fees for large equipment, container trucks, etcetera, in the interest of road safety.
He points out that the current Vehicle Inspection Service on Pond Island cannot accommodate these and their operators are unable to make the investment needed for an adequate alternative. However, if it is to be funded by increasing the relevant fee for them as indicated, they will still pay for it in the end.
Nevertheless, the lack of proper local inspection facilities for heavy vehicles is a legitimate public safety concern that should indeed be addressed, considering the number of accidents and near-misses involving such often due to technical issues over the years. The question remains how substantially higher fees for this type of transport and working vehicles could impact the cost of living as well as doing business on the island.
In other words, at what price?
