The end of waiting in line for hours at the Transport Control Department is almost near as Transport Minister Ewart Brown announced the first stage of e-TCD initiative with the launch of the Department's website.

The website, www.tcd.gov.bm, includes license information and FAQ's, the ability to download applications for a driver's license or a learner's permit, and a list of all TCD fees as well as many other features.

TCD's IT (information technology) Project Manager David Burt implemented the e-TCD project with the help of student Deon Seymour who was enrolled in the Bermuda Government Summer Student Programme.

Dr. Brown said the initiative would be moving to introduce more access to the Department and said an online service to issue licences would hopefully be available by the summer.

"Early in 2004, the public will be able to book an confirm appointments online, insurance companies will no longer be required to fax multiple certificates to TCD, and we will implement an electronic testing system and introduce brand new driver's license for Bermudians, which will put this country at the forefront of secure identification world-wide."

He said Bermudians and new residents would be able to get Bermuda issued licenses without having to go through all the "red tape".

"As we continue to modernise TCD, we will soon be introducing legislation to make it more convenient for a person who has an overseas driver's license to get a Bermuda driver's license with an initiative called the Fast Track Driver's License Programme," Dr. Brown said.

If Bermudians, who are living in the US, receive a license for a private car the license is not honoured in Bermuda, Dr. Brown explained.

He also said that US citizens moving to Bermuda must go through a lengthy process to get a Bermuda driver's and he said that the programme would be up and running by the end of this year.

"The Fast Track Driver's License Programme will eliminate the red tape, thus speeding up the process of receiving a Bermuda driver's license for a person who has a license from overseas."

Dr. Brown assured the public that the computer problem that had plagued TCD computers recently was a virus that affected all Government computers and he said that an increased firewall had been set up to try and cut back on any future virus problems.

"Whenever computers are used there is always a chance of technical problems. This is not just an exercise in IT but also in Government efficiency," he said