The Ghana Police Service has begun processes to compensate owners of vehicle with DV and DP number plates believed to have been wrongfully fined or jailed.
The ban on the use of vehicles with DV and DP number plates between 6pm and 6 am was issued ten years ago and was to reduce crime on the road.
It was however outlawed in 2012, but prosecution did not end.
Director General of the Public Affairs division at the Ghana Police Service, ACP David Eklu has however assured that those offended will be duly compensated.
“Police Officers should stop prosecuting the usage of vehicles with DV and DP number plates between the hours of 6pm to 6 am. Based on this, we have written to the MTTD to find out if anybody has been prosecuted under the previous law, for the necessary remedies to be given.â€
Trade license plates
Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) officers have, in the past, insisted that no person should use trade license plates outside business hours, which are between 6pm and 6am.
They often referred to Section 50 (b) of the Road Traffic Act 2004, Act 683, which, among other things, prohibits users from carrying passengers or goods for hiring or reward.
According to the Act, definitions of misuse of the trade licenses includes a situation where a person who holds a trade license or trade licenses uses;
(a) At any one time on a road, a greater number of motor vehicles than the person is authorized to use by virtue of the trade licence or licences,
(b) A motor vehicle on a road for any purposes other than a purpose which has been prescribed by Regulations, or
(c) the trade licence, or any of the trade licences, for the purposes of keeping on a road in any circumstances other than circumstances which have been prescribed, a motor vehicle, which is not being used on that road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 500 penalty units and not exceeding 1000 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
 www.primenewsghana.com/ Ghana News
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