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CID probes forged driving licences at MTD’s request
The Motor Traffic Dept (MTD) has requested the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct a probe into the alleged forging of Driving Licences (DL).
MTD Commissioner General, Jagath Chandrasiri told the Sunday Times that, both new and old versions of DLs are being forged. While the CID investigates, the MTD has also initiated its own internal probe to ascertain if a third party had infiltrated the Dept, and was working with elements within to produce forged DLs.
Of particular concern to authorities is the ability of the racketeers to forge new DLs that have biometric details of the holder. The DLs are produced by the MTD, in collaboration with a private company. “This is a high security process and is extremely difficult to replicate these DLs,” Mr. Munasinghe insisted.
According to him, the current criteria to obtain a DL is quite strict. “In addition to passing the written test, an applicant must first undergo a practical training period of three months, before he/she faces a practical driving examination. In many cases, people who don’t wish to go through training periods, purchase forged DLs. Those who fail a fitness test and are declared medically unfit to drive, also try to obtain forged DLs,” Mr. Munasinghe said.
Police sources said racketeers use various methods to replicate DLs. In the case of the old DL, they even forge the transparent sticker in the DL. However, this forged sticker can easily be removed, which is one method of detecting a forged DL.
“It is far more difficult to detect forgeries of new DLs. For example, the microchip in the new DL, lists what vehicles the holder is permitted to drive. A forgery can include details of vehicles that the holder is not permitted to drive. These DLs cost as much as Rs 20,000,” police sources conceded.
The consequences of someone possessing a forged DL could prove deadly, Deputy Inspector General (DIG)- Traffic, Palitha Fernando pointed out. “These drivers are unqualified and cause fatal accidents,” he stressed, adding that police are going to extraordinary lengths to detect those possessing forged DLs.