Electronic Number Plates A Possibility

New electronic number plates will be issued starting next month, about three months later than the Cayman Islands government initially planned.

The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing announced Monday that some 2,400 temporary vehicle tags that have been issued in recent months will all be replaced in May. The temporary tags were issued in anticipation of the upcoming effort to switch to the electronic number plate devices.

After May, the department will begin replacing the older license plates and vehicle registrations free of charge when drivers bring in their vehicles for the typical registration renewal.

The new registration plates, which have the numbers stamped at the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing facility, are “tamper proof” – they cannot be removed for use on other vehicles.

In addition to the new license plates, corresponding vehicle registration coupons must be installed inside the windscreen. There are specific instructions for doing this, which the department said will be provided with the new license plates.

“I thank the public for their patience,” DVDL Director David Dixon said Monday, adding that the license plate vendor, Tonnjes, has been in Cayman recently, managing the setup of the new licensing system.

The electronic vehicle licensing system has generated significant controversy since its implementation was announced in the Legislative Assembly last summer. The new system cost $1.5 million, according to the vehicles department.