Do you happen to know when registration numbers were first introduced on Guernsey? And were the first standard-issue plates 5-digit ones, or were lower numbers issued initially?
From a driving instructor, double digits were the first issued, prior to that he says it was same as UK. So you are looking at early 1930's. I have not investigated this and judging by the standard of driving here, it is probably quite well off the mark.
5 digits were issued when 4 digits were running out.
Auctioning them occured a number of years ago when the politicians woke up to find the bigger world outside actually existed and was not a figment of a bloke down the pubs imagination, and also they saw they could make a shed load of money (once) thus meaning nobody pays taxes (every year) with the windfall.
However, big pot of money ran out (surprisingly) and stuff they bought with it has fallen apart, worn out, requires more money spending on it. Bottomless pit of money (tax payers) is quite shallow as it happens.
Lots more cars here too.
So, new money making scheme needed to be invented to provide new, ever lasting income stream (at one auction) and keep over paid and extremely busy vehicle licensing department employed full time, without having to dip into tax payers pockets.
It is an ever lasting income stream as next year we have our general elections, as we do every 4 years, so ever lasting here means between 4 years and 1 year.
It also means no money spending decisions are taking in the last 3 years of any government, and only income generating schemes are announced in the last 12months.
from years 2-3 time is spent reveiwing the current systems of government and knee kerking into things that have been avoided for the last 20years, or were hidden in the "too difficult draw" and are taking up too much space for other even more difficult decisions which need to be passed on to the new generations.
If I get an accurate version of the number plate history will post it up.
Sunday trading law, tax systems and trying to remain independant from everywhere are currenlty the big discussions. Next week they have programmed in a rant about paid parking and why it will destroy the island, so we need to keep it free. I am led to belive the week after that we need to be shouting in unaspiring terms about pensions, then its back to how many cruise ship passengers come ashore but don't spending any money in the shops selling tat for cruise ship passengers. 1st week of July, big rant about Waitrose (reason yet to be decided but probably price of something found cheaper in Aldi in southampton)
Its a full time job keeping up with the rants we are expected to have.
This time last year, we were in full swing about the removal of the air raid sirens. Apparenlty they were going to cost over £100,000 to renew, so they decided to turn them off. for ever. Obviously most people ran out to B&Q for a new anderson shelter the day after. I mean, how else are we going to be safe????
Hang on......here is a link to the national newspaper. You can all keep up to speed with our issues which will destroy the very fabric of the islands way of life.
This Is Guernsey
Please don't laugh. It is a serious newspaper. You are all lucky to have all those choices you have and all the issues you have to dilute the really serious issues that actually affect your way of life. Here, we get right to the important stuff, instantly, then revisit it incessantly, for ever.
They can have between 1 and 5 numbers, and older (lower) numbers can be retained or reissued.
