RTSA Head of Public Relations Frederick Mubanga says all vehicles bearing the number plates “ECL 2021” are illegal because they are not registered with the Agency.

In an interview with News Diggers! Mubanga explained that currently, there was no legally registered number plate as “ECL 2021” and added that even if someone in the Patriotic Front applied for its registration, only one vehicle would be authorised to bear it.

“There are normal number plates as well as there are also vanity number plates which are personalised number plates, of which those wishing to have personalised number plates such as “ECL 2021″ can apply for it. However anything that does not meet the required standard as outlined to what the Act states, all such number plates are illegal,” Mubanga said.

“The minister was very categorical in his statement that all the number plates that are bearing ECL are illegally registered. They are not registered by the Road Transport and Safety Agency. However, there can only be one person who can apply for that ECL plate number because it’s provided for under the Road Traffic Act. It is only one vehicle at one particular point that uses those personalised number plates and anything outside the provisions of the law are illegal. That is why we are saying that as for now, all the number plates that are bearing those numbers are illegal because they are not registered with the Road Transport and Safety Agency.”

Mubanga said all those bearing illegal number plates would be clamped down.

“Of course that is why the Road Transport and Safety Agency issues number plates but there is also the issue of the number plates manufacturers that have got a role to play in terms of putting these number plates on vehicles. That is why going forward, we will be doing the registration process electronically and also trying to see to it that all those number plate manufacturers are affiliated with the Road Transport and Safety agency so that we regulate this unnecessary placement of number plates on vehicles anyhow without authority from the Road Transport and Safety Agency. Of course those that are on the roads are being impounded,” said Mubanga.