MARIGOT–The Collectivité notes that a growing number of vehicles are circulating on the roads without the required licence plates, and do not comply with the new Speciale Immatriculation des Vehicules (SIV) registration system of the Collectivité. These offending vehicles carry either an old plate (French- or Dutch-side), a registration that does not conform to the territory, or they are on the road with no registration plates.
In May 2010 and February 2011, the Collectivité introduced new road traffic rules and two-wheel registration specially adapted to its territory. In this context, the Collectivité wishes to remind residents of St. Martin who are owners of vehicles subject to registration, that they are required to comply with the SIV specific to the territory.
Identification of the new SIV vehicle registration system for St. Martin: Apart from the standard model, (square registration plates for mopeds and rectangle-shaped plates with the longest side horizontal for motor vehicles), the different plate sizes will be determined by the manufacturers according to the ergonomics of the vehicles likely to be presented to them.
As for installation of the new plate: for the car, the licence plates must show the reduced-format European emblem, top left, 12 yellow stars in the upper part and an “F” in the lower part, all on a blue retro-reflective background; followed by the registration number in the centre, in the useful part of the plate, comprising, on one line, a series of four digits followed by a dash, and then a series of three upper case letters in black on a white retro-reflective background. The territorial identifier (Collectivité logo) is indicated at the upper right corner on a retro-reflective blue background; in the lower part of the plate, in the centre are the words “La Collectivité de SAINT-MARTIN” in white characters on a black background.
For mopeds (scooters) and motorcycles from two to four wheels: the registration plate is identically arranged, with two exceptions. The registration number is arranged on two lines and has a series of three digits on one line, followed by a series of two letters in capital letters on the line below; a space is provided between the number block in the upper part and the letter block in the lower part.
The obligation to register vehicles refers to all residents of St. Martin, owners of one or more vehicles, all categories combined: light vehicles (3.5 tonnes); mopeds and motorcycles with two, three and four wheels, all of which are of the same size; heavy vehicles (3.5+ tonnes) and super heavy vehicles (7+ tons).
All vehicles in circulation have a period of one month to be registered in accordance with the territory, with the exception of vehicles bearing a valid Dutch registration plate, and vehicles of the National Gendarmerie. Motorists and moped riders have a maximum period of one month after transfer or change of residence to make their declaration to the territorial administration and regularise their situation. This rule is applicable to all cases of acquisition or transfer of vehicles including: change of ownership when the vehicle is in the former owner’s old registration system; change of ownership when the vehicle is registered by the former owner; registration of a new vehicle; registration of an imported vehicle; and change of registration when the owner is changing residence in St. Martin.
The declaration of transfer of a vehicle does not prevail when said vehicle is put into service. For newly imported vehicles, the Certificate of Customs clearance is not valid. In all cases, while awaiting the title registration certificate (car registration document), only the registration application receipt issued by the competent authority of the Collectivité authorises driving the vehicle. The issue of the vehicle registration receipt is accompanied by the installation of the appropriate registration plates on said vehicle.
The list of documents to be provided, as the case may be, is available from the territorial driving licence service STTC located at Rue Victor Maurasse, Marigot 97-150, St. Martin, at the following times: Monday to Friday from 8:15am to 1:00pm. STTC can be contacted at tel. (0590)87.61.91.
However, in some cases, specific and mandatory documents will be required in the registration procedure, depending on the origin of the vehicle (Zone Hollandaise ZH, USA, foreign countries) and the risks involved (double registration, wrecked vehicle, traffic ban, etc.).
For the registration of vehicles from the Dutch-side area the Inspection Card, the Road Tax receipt, the Bill of Sale purchase invoice, the ZH registration cancellation certificate, the six-month roadworthiness test report and the identification/identification card report, among other documents not listed, are some of the documents to be included in the file.
For the registration of vehicles from the USA and abroad, documents required include the Certificate of Title, the transport invoice, the purchase invoice, the six-month roadworthiness test report, the identification report, the Certificate of Title with “salvage, destruction” and the identification report/identification card. “Salvage” vehicles are prohibited from circulation and registration.
This survey is not exhaustive. The STTC will be able to provide all necessary information and provide the letter stating the complete list of documents required, according to the requirements of the case. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the authorities of Country St. Maarten on the modalities of intervention will soon enable the police to apprehend vehicles travelling in the French zone with expired registration plates, which have become obsolete on the Dutch side, for one or more years. These vehicles are dangerous and cause several types of nuisance.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/92211-collectivite-indicates-too-many-cars-not-compliant-with-registration-system
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