GRA warns against use of unregistered vehicles, misuse of trade plates

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued warnings over the use of unregistered vehicles and the misuse of trade plates on vehicles traversing the country’s roadway.
There are laws governing the use of unregistered vehicles and trade plates and failure to comply will result in the tax regulatory body and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) taking action.
In notices published in the media, the GRA noted that it has observed with concern the increase in the number of unregistered motor vehicles traversing the public roadways. It has reminded importers, investors, and owners of unregistered vehicles of the terms and conditions of the release of these vehicles from the city wharves, which restrict their use until after registration.
Persons have 14 days to take corrective actions and engage the customs, excise, and trade operations and licence revenue office to have those motor vehicles duly entered and registered.
Failure to comply will result in GRA and the Police collaborating to have such vehicles detained.
Regarding the use of trade plates, GRA noted further that it continues to observe with great concern, the number of motor vehicles affixed with trade plates that are using public roadways.
In some cases, the tax agency said that motor vehicles can be seen affixed with the same trade plate number assigned to a particular auto dealer.
In light of this, it reminded that trade plates are mainly intended for movement of vehicles cleared from the wharves, to move to premises, and to facilitate registration.
According to GRA, the use of these plates is restricted to weekdays—Monday to Friday from 06:00h (6 am) to 18:00h (6 pm) —and must not operate on weekends or public holidays. Further, it stressed that the use of trade plates beyond official hours and for an excessive amount of time is an offence.
Section 21 (1) and (3) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act permits the use of no more than four trade plates to temporarily allow vehicles to drive and move without being registered.
In this regard, it is urging all auto dealers “to take corrective actions immediately to cease the use of trade plates beyond what is allowed and register their vehicles as soon as possible”.
“Failing which, GRA and the Guyana Police Force will collaborate efforts to detain all motor vehicles found in use contrary to the provisions of the law”, one of the notices read while adding that the penalties include the revocation or suspension of dealership licences. (G1)