Transport Minister Ewart Brown granted Progressive Labour Party trustee Henry Talbot permission to own a car which does not meet the Island's size standards, can reveal.

However, Transport Control director Kevin Monkman explained that permission was granted in light of the fact that legislators will be increasing the size of private cars within the next few weeks with amendments which are supported by both the Opposition and industry stakeholders.

That legislation will not increase the weight-to-power ratio of private cars, however, meaning that Mr. Talbot's car will still be too powerful after the legislation passes ? a slip-up which Mr. Monkman promptly took responsibility for, saying it was a mistake that he should have caught.

Currently, private car size limitations stand at 169 inches long, 67 inches wide, an engine of two litres and a weight to power ratio of 10.5, Mr. Monkman told .

Mr. Talbot's Mercedes, however, is about one inch too wide and has a weight to power ratio of 10.3. Anything lower than 10.5 is too powerful, Mr. Monkman said.

Mr. Monkman explained that, as far he was aware, in his three-and-a-half years as TCD director there had been no exceptions to the rules regarding the size of private cars on the Island.

There had been exceptions for some other classes of vehicles, such as flatbed trucks, "but on the private car side we have been very strict".

Mr. Talbot, owner of Talbot Enterprises, approached him several months ago about bringing the Mercedes in, he said, adding: "I wasn't able to give him permission, so he applied to the Minister."

The Minister does have legislative power under Section 10 of the Motor Car Act to grant such permission.

Dr. Brown, who has no financial interest in any of the car dealerships on the Island, reasoned that as Government was bringing forward legislation to increase the size of private cars anyway ? legislation that had the support of the Opposition and of industry stakeholders on the Island ? he would go ahead and give approval for Mr. Talbot's car.

That legislation, tabled in the House of Assembly just last Friday, would increase the allowed length of private cars to 175 inches, the width to 71 inches, and the engine to 2.5 litres.

Several years ago, when the original proposal to increase the size of private cars was first made, it was suggested that new standards be set at length of 176 inches and width around 73 inches, Mr. Monkman said.

However the Ministry reasoned that was too large, and decreased them to 172 inches long and 70 inches wide. Then, after more information was gleaned from members of the public (particularly large families needing larger cars), those numbers were changed again to 175 inches long and 71 inches wide.

That means cars such as the PT Cruiser, formerly one-tenth of an inch too wide, and the Volkswagen Beetle, formerly half an inch too wide, could potentially be imported.

The weight to power ratio will not be changing, however, meaning that technically, Mr. Talbot's car still exceeds Bermuda's regulations.

"That's my fault," Mr. Monkman said.

When making his recommendation to Dr. Brown, he explained, he neglected to look at the issue of the weight-to-power ratio.

"I only looked at the length and the width ... I should have caught that. But I didn't, so now I have to eat it."