The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation is computerizing the car registration system in order to make it harder for people to dodge vehicle laws, said officials in a Thursday meeting between the ministry and the Municipality of Phnom Penh.
Ing Kieth, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation, said drivers should make sure their vehicles have legal front and back plates, drivers’ licenses and tax certificates. “We have to make [the vehicle registration system] effective,” he said.
Cars are required to have front and back plates but vehicle registration laws are widely ignored. Counterfeit plates are available from street vendors for $1 to $2 around Phnom Penh.
Transportation Director-General Chum Sokhum said computerization of the system is essential for checking if cars are legally registered. “If we suspect any cars of having illegal number plates, we will stop and check them,” he said.
Chum Sokhum said that computer disks with a copy of a database of all legally registered cars categorized by type will be sent to the necessary authorities, especially the Ministry of the Interior.
Officials estimated between 7,000 and 8,000 cars are being used throughout the country that have not been legally registered.
First Deputy Governor Chea Sophara said that Phnom Penh Municipality will force drivers to abide by the law.
He said task forces will enforce the vehicle laws strictly and that drivers had three months to get legal plates and proper registration for their cars.
“The city will force them to follow the law or else their vehicles cannot ply the roads in Phnom Penh,” said Chea Sophara, who promised three weeks ago that the municipality would become more strict about license plates.
He said the tax on vehicles currently generated 1.4 billion riel ($358,974) for the city. “With these tough measures, we will gain income for the state and reduce traffic jams, kidnapping and crimes,” he said.
In addition, Ing Kieth said that weighing stations would be established to weigh trucks. Overloaded trucks break bridges and hamper the flow of traffic.
Enforcement of motorcycle regulations was not discussed.
