PHILIPSBURG--Motorists who have not yet paid their 2016 motor vehicle tax have the rest of this week to make their payment to avoid being caught in the police control starting next week.
Receiver Minerva Gumbs announced on Monday that the motor vehicle tax controls will start as of Monday, March 21. The controls were set by the Tax Administration Receiver’s Office in cooperation with Police Department. The Receiver said all vehicles must carry the 2016 plates, which must also be visible to the police before March 21. “This means plates covered with tinted plastic that are not legible are not allowed and the driver can be fined.”
Drivers and owners of vehicles that are not in compliance will be fined NAf. 300 according to article 25 of the Motor Vehicle tax ordinance. In addition to the fine, drivers will have to endure the inconvenience of having their vehicles confiscated.
Persons whose vehicles are confiscated in the motor vehicle tax controls will have to visit the Receivers Office with valid insurance and inspection card and pay the motor vehicle taxes for the confiscated vehicle. After making payment to the Receiver’s Office, the motorist will have to take the motor vehicle tax receipt to the Police Department to get a “release form,” with which the motorist will have to take to the towing company specified on the release form to retrieve their vehicle. The police-issued fine of NAf. 300 will also have to be paid as well as the towing company charges of up to US $85 plus US$15 daily storage fee before the vehicle is released.
The price for the 2016 number plates is NAf. 12.50 for all types of vehicles and NAf. 7.50 for motorbikes. Motorists with number plates M, P, SXM, MR (Ministers) and PAR (Parliament) will pay NAf. 275 in motor vehicle tax for gasoline-operated vehicles and NAf. 750 for diesel fuel-operated ones
Motorists with R plates will pay NAf. 300 for gasoline-operated vehicles and NAf. 750 for diesel fuel-operated vehicles. Taxis, BUS, G (group) and T (tour buses with 35 passengers or less) pay NAf. 275 for gasoline-operated vehicles and NAf. 550 for diesel fuel-operated vehicles. Vehicles with V and Z plates that weigh more than 3,500kg will pay NAf. 1,250 for gasoline- or diesel fuel-operated vehicles. Vehicles with V plates that weigh less than 3,500kg will pay NAf. 275 for gasoline-operated vehicles and NAf. 750 for diesel fuel-operated vehicles. Persons with MF (motorbike) plates will pay NAf. 200 and those with MF (mopeds) will pay NAf. 50 in motor vehicle tax.
A total of 30,737 pairs of number plates were ordered for motorists for this year. The 2016 plates are aqua green in colour, feature an aerial shot of St. Maarten in the background and bear the words The Friendly Island at the top and St. Maarten at the bottom.
