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Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to the article headed "Top tips for preparing your ­vehicle for TCD inspection" printed last week.

The article gives good ­advice to the public on the steps required to prepare for and get through the ­annual vehicle inspection - but with some errors and important omissions.

Firstly, since April 6, the private company Bermuda Emissions Control Ltd (BECL) has been responsible for carrying out the ­annual inspection on all ­vehicles registered for use on the roads of Bermuda, not TCD. The Inspectors who carry out this work are employees of BECL.

Emissions

The TCD staff, who now play a different role, are known as Examiners.

Secondly, the article makes no mention of the additional, substantial and crucial difference to the testing process, namely the testing of the exhaust gas emissions since BECL took over.

The testing process has never before had an ­exhaust emissions testing element and this addition brings us into line with many major jurisdictions around the world.

Thirdly, the previous ­testing process was very subjective in that it was the responsibility of the ­individual TCD examiner to determine, by visual means, whether the various parts of the vehicle met the required TCD standard.

BECL has introduced state of the art, computerised equipment that ­automatically tests the headlights, brakes, tint, horsepower (for four-stroke bikes) and exhaust emission levels.

The results are automatically recorded in our ­computer system and the ­final result downloaded to TCD in real time.

The customer also ­receives a print out of the inspection result, listing the reasons for any failures.

Fourthly, BECL was ­responsible for overseeing the build of the new four-lane testing facility and TCD administration offices at North Street, as well as two new single lane 'satellite' testing facilities at Southside (replacing Penno's Wharf) and at Rockaway (replacing Boaz ­Island).

Additionally, the satellite stations are open five days a week unlike the previous TCD arrangement, which was only one day per week.

Ian Hind

Director of Operations,

Bermuda Emissions Control Limited[[In-content Ad]]

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