The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport says it cannot, as yet, comment on what will happen to motorists with plastic number plates when the intelligent number plates (INP) project is rolled out.
The new aluminium number plate series for Gauteng was unveiled by MEC Ismail Vadi yesterday.
The new series does not form part of the INP, which has been delayed and will now be rolled out over a 24-month period once tests are done on the available technology.
Replacing plates
When the INP project is rolled out, a microchip will be inserted into the bottom of the existing aluminium plate, so citizens don't have to replace their plates yet again, according to the department's chief director of communications, Octavia Mambolo.
However, she adds that the department cannot as yet comment on what will happen to motorists who still have plastic number plates when the INP project is ready for roll-out.
Vadi notes that motorists will be able to keep their old registration numbers as the new number plate series is mandatory only for newly-registered vehicles and for transfers of ownership of second-hand vehicles.
However, technical member of the Number Plates Association of SA, David Pretorius, says the aluminium plate will be the only legal plate as of August next year.
He explains that part of the department's regulations for the INP are that the plates have to be firmly attached to the vehicles and it is very difficult to do this with plastic plates, as they crack easily.
“The department is then paving the way for the INP by introducing the aluminium plates now.”
Combating fraud
Vadi says the series of number plates introduced yesterday will combat fraud, as part of a larger initiative to reduce the number of fraudulent plates.
All number plate suppliers are required by law to register with the department, says the MEC.
“The new number series (BB 01 BB GP) will be issued only on aluminium plates. It contains a distinctive security feature, namely, a continuous and unbroken wave mark or image running horizontally on the white, retro reflective plate surface.”
He says this feature was added because there is no reliable means of determining solely from the face of a number plate if it was legitimately issued.
The number plate's border, letters and numbers are in dark blue and there is a distinctive watermark feature on the new plate, he adds.
According to Vadi, the new series also points to the fact the department has exhausted eight million numbers of the current series.
He says the new plates are comparable in price to the current prices of number plates. “They will be available to the public at no additional cost.”
Intelligence prioritised
Vadi says the INP project is part of the department's priorities for the financial year 2010/11.
In an effort to improve broad-based consultation before the introduction of the project in the province, he held a meeting with INP embossers last week to outline regulatory requirements and other concerns regarding the project.
The department says it will undertake an extensive communication campaign to inform and educate motorists of the benefits and advantages of the intelligent number plates.
Unique codes
The department previously said the technology for the INP project is problematic and lack of competition is also an issue.
The project is scheduled to run for four years, and is intended to be completed by November 2013. Former roads and transport MEC Bheki Nkosi said the department set aside R25 million for the project in this financial year.
The electronic number plate system will have RFID tags that contain unique identification codes programmed into a 2D bar code that traffic authorities will be able to scan.
Number plate manufacturers will also have to be accredited and plates will be bolted onto vehicles with tamper-proof screws to prevent fraud.
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