VRT station fined Lm5,000

A VRT testing station has been fined Lm5,000 after spot checks by inspectors of the Malta Transport Authority revealed that after a vehicle was tested by the station, the roadworthiness approved certificate issued showed contradictory test results.

The authority would not give the name of the station.

A further three stations are being investigated.

The authority explained that the spot check was carried out on June 24. When the station operator was asked about the contradictory results, he claimed that was due to bad calibration of the testing equipment.

But investigations carried out by the authority's technical staff and the testing equipment manufacturer's accredited technician showed there was nothing wrong with the calibration. Further tests revealed that the testing equipment had been tampered with.

The station's permit was revoked until it regularised its position and it was given the green light on June 27.

The authority said that all VRT operators had entered into an agreement with the Licensing and Testing Department (which preceded the authority) guaranteeing to pay a maximum sum of Lm10,000 should they fail to carry out their obligations. In this case, because it was a first time, the operator was fined Lm5,000.