School van found with 'illegal' number plates

The Malta Transport Authority's enforcement personnel seized a Mazda van allegedly bearing illegal registration plates while on its way to transport a group of children to a school in Sliema.

The van's registration plates were actually registered on an Isuzu Van, the authority said. Further investigations carried out by its enforcement unit revealed that the road licence had not been paid for a number of years.

The driver of the Mazda van was asked to pull over near St Elizabeth school, in Sliema on Tuesday morning by enforcement officers but he ignored them and drove off in a reckless manner. The van was full of children on their way to school, the authority said, adding that in order not to frighten the children, the enforcement officers followed the driver until all the students alighted and then flagged him down near the Msida roundabout.

The Mazda Van, model 2200, and the illegal registration plates were confiscated and legal action is being taken against the driver, the authority said.