Motor-cycle ‘D’ plate confusion

Press, 3 July 1978, Page 16

Motor-cycle ‘D’ plate confusion

Motor-cycle dealers are not required to register two trade plates, commonly referred to as “D” plates, if they handle both motorcycles and power-cycles. Confusion arose when some Christchurch dealers interpreted the wording on the back of the new relicensing forms to mean that an extra trade plate was required for small motorcycles. The schedule of fees on the form provides for a trade plate for motor-cycles of more than 60 cu cm at $25.50, and another for, power-cycles of 60 cu. cm or less at $14.05. Instructions received by the motor registration branch of the Chief Post Office in Christchurch could be interpreted either way, and dealers were advised by representatives of the Ministry of Transport in Christchurch that two plates were

needed if they dealt in all categories of motor-cycles. However, the advisory officer on road transport policy with the Ministry of Transport in Wellington (Mr D. W. Gobey) said yesterday that this was not so. Persons who dealt in both large and small motorcycles were required to pay only the higher fee. This was set at the same level as last year, when only one plate was available for all motor-cycles and powercycles, he said. “There is no , question of dealers having to pay two sets of fees.” The trade plate for powercycles and motor-cycles of 60 cu. cm or less was for those dealing only in this size of machine. It had been introduced because of the new scale of fees being levied bv the Accident Com--1 pensatioh Commission, Mr Gobey said.