Ferrari, Bentley among cars impounded in foreign plates clampdown

A Bentley, Ferraris, Porsches and Range Rovers are among the luxurious vehicles that have been impounded by Transport Malta and the Police in a joint operation clamping down on unregistered foreign cars.

A total of 65 vehicles were seized in two raids over this month, with the second operation taking place in Sliema on Friday evening, when police and Transport Malta officials could be seen in at least three different roads concurrently checking out number plates.

Most of the cars were found to have Libyan or UK-registered plates but other European plates were also found.

MaltaToday is informed that the clamping of illegal vehicles will be in force by the end of the year while Transport Malta is set to install an intelligent traffic system to monitor foreign-plate vehicles with various cameras, including speed cameras.

This will mostly affect drivers who are trying to bypass the system by going abroad for a day, or two, and come back with “proof” of the interrupted seven-month period. Such proof would usually consist of a boat ticket.

Action against unregistered foreign cars has been going on since the beginning of the year, with the number of such cars having mushroomed. 

Abuses mainly happen for four reasons, including Maltese drivers who import cars from the United Kingdom and keep on driving it in Malta without registering it. Other owners may have a valid Maltese residency permit or identity card, but still drive a foreign-registered car. 

Another common occurrence is of foreign residents who overstay in Malta, including Italians and eastern Europeans. 

Officials have also, on several occasions, come across car dealers who abuse their trial run plates, usually over weekends. 

In reply to a parliamentary question raised by PN MP Kristy Debono in January, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi confirmed that, by law, cars with foreign-registered plates can be driven in Malta for a temporary period of seven months, out of a 12-month period. Following this period, the cars have to be registered or exported. Motorists found to be in breach of this law have their car impounded.