Fees charged by DVLA for prestige services illegal – Parliament

Parliament has declared as illegal, the fees being charged by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for its much-publicized prestige services.

A report by the parliamentary select committee on Road and Transport tabled before the House Monday said the charges are without legal basis.

The committee was unhappy the DVLA was charging customers a premium service fee for the processing of driver’s licenses without parliamentary approval.

“The committee expresses unhappiness with the DVLA over the fees charged on the processing of driver’s licence for prestige customers,” chairman of the committee, Samuel Ayeh-Paye said.

The DVLA prestige service is an expedited service for persons seeking renewal of driver’s licence, replacement of missing or expired licence, conversion of foreign driver’s licence and acquisition of international driver’s licence.

According to the DVLA, these services are offered to customers within 30 minutes at a special fee which is usually higher than the fee charged for normal service.

The Minority insisted these prestige charges by the DVLA ought to be brought to parliament for approval.

“The fees they are charging for the prestige service today are is up and above what is in the fees and charges,” Ranking member of the committee, Governs Kwame Agbodza said and demanded that the right thing is done.

He asked that the new charges for the prestige services are brought to the House for approval.

Mr. Ayeh-Paye who accepted the fact that the charges were illegal directed: “the committee therefore ask the DVLA to bring their new fees and charges for the approval by the House”

Meanwhile, the House has approved the 294,464,233-cedi budget for the Ministry of Road and Transport.