From Don Filleul.
I WAS interested to learn that 3,000 people have still not renewed their driving licences.
My wife was unable to renew her licence until two days after its expiry date, 11 January. She was told in no uncertain terms that she was too late, had had plenty of time to renew, and that (by way of punishment, presumably) the new card would show that she had only been driving for one year.
As a result it was likely that she would not be able to hire a car, as one year’s experience was often not acceptable to a hire company. Our Constable subsequently explained that the new computerised system can only deal with driving proficiency back to January 1994, and that is what appears on most licence cards.
If, however, you apply after your renewal date, it can only credit you with one year’s dri-ving experience.
To quote her letter: ‘I am afraid that our hands are tied by the automated system that is in place.’ So any authority which has cause to examine your licence will assume that you are a relatively new driver and respond accordingly.
It only requires a little im-agination to picture the situations which could arise on a motoring holiday or even in the circumstance when a hire-car is essential. Clearly the computer’s tail is wagging the parochial dog.
I submit that urgent steps should be taken by the Constables Committee to have the software modified, for otherwise thousands of licences are going to be telling lies. Which may well be illegal. Not quite what they had in mind, I’m sure.
Trellian,
Rue des Murs,
St Lawrence.
