Lawmaker demands space at car inspections

Lawmaker Ron Lam demands that the Transport Bureau (DSAT) investigate the lack of bookable slots for vehicle inspection services.

Lam revealed that he has recently received reports from the public that all slots for vehicle inspection services are booked out during government designated periods. All owners of vehicles required to undergo annual inspections should do so during their designated periods, according to the law. Failure to do so will result in a surcharge.

He pointed to a case he received to support the statement. The car owner received a text from the DSAT, notifying him to arrange an inspection of his car between March 28 and April 13. The owner immediately tried to book a slot but all slots were full. As such, he could only book slots outside of his designated period, causing him to incur a fine of MOP2,000.

According to Lam, the DSAT did not expand the capacity of vehicle inspection centers, but nevertheless required vehicle owners with annual inspection periods concluding on or after April 3 to follow their original designated 10-day period.

The main challenge is that inspections that were delayed due to Covid-19 lockdowns last year were pushing out the timeframes.

Lam criticized the bureau for violating the principle of goodwill in the provision of public services, as the bureau only suggests that car owners monitor the booking system for additional slots or line up on the last day of their designated period, rather than making additional spaces available or guaranteeing service.

The lawmaker asked whether the DSAT had plans to further expand the capacity of vehicle inspection centers to process the current backlog.

Additionally, as the number of motor vehicles due for inspection is expected to further expand, he asked whether the bureau had further plans to provide additional vehicle inspection services – for example, through outsourcing.