Release date: 1/13/2017
ENHANCED SECURITY. IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY. GREATER CONVENIENCE
The Ministry of Works and Transport today (Friday 13th January, 2017) launched Trinidad and Tobago’s New Driving Permit System at a press conference hosted by Senator the Honourable Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport.
Minister Sinanan in his feature address to the audience which included Major General (Ret’d) The Honourable Edmund Dillon, Minister of National Security; the Honourable Maxie Cuffie, Minister of Public Administration and Communications; and the Acting Police Commissioner, Mr. Stephen Williams, underscored some of the immediate benefits of the New Driving Permit System.
“The new driving permit being launched is embedded with barcode technology that significantly reduces the risk of duplication. In the very near future, meaning in a few months-time, legislation will be brought to the Parliament which will allow authorized officers to scan permits on the scene and obtain all relevant information about the holder of the particular driver’s permit,” he said.
Minister Sinanan also announced that the implementation of the New Driver’s Permit System will take place in Tobago on Monday 16th January, 2017, as part of the Ministry’s reformation of the Licensing Division, and focus on improved efficiency for the benefit of all citizens.
“There is more good news for Tobagonians-the days of waiting for longer periods to get a certified copy of vehicle registration are over. With effect from this Monday, there will be the production of certificates on the same day of the request-all as part of this Ministry’s continued commitment to more efficient, effective and reliable delivery of all its services,” he said.
ABOUT THE NEW DRIVING PERMIT SYSTEM
The New Driving Permit System will be part of a centralized digital system that will allow authorized persons at the Licensing Office to access and provide data in legitimate circumstances, so that the holder of a driver’s permit no longer has to go to a specific office to get pertinent information about his/her licence. The electronic storage of information will benefit citizens as it is cost effective, reliable and easily available.
The scanning of the barcode on the new driving permit, allows authorized officers to obtain relevant information such as whether the holder has any recorded and/or outstanding infractions of the law thereby establishing an independent and reliable tracking system for those who have had any interaction with the legal system.
The New Driving Permit System does not invalidate existing permits and citizens are not required to change their old permits until its date of expiry. The cost structure for renewals and first issues of permits has remained the same at $500.00 for five years and $1,000.00 for 10 years.
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