vehicle licence stickers that arrived last week, acting TCD director Mr. Val Caesar said.

As of April 1, the deadline for private car owners to renew their licence stickers is on their birthdays, Mr. Caesar told The Royal Gazette .

Previously, it was the end of the month that was marked on the sticker.

Although motorists can renew their licence stickers as early as three months before the deadline, the old system resulted in long line-ups at the TCD at the end of each month.

The new stickers will identify not only a month, but a date, and should help spread the load through the month, Mr. Caesar said.

Because the 1996 stickers were late arriving, about 200 motorists have been given substitute stickers which do not match the month on which they were born, he said. Starting this week, they are asked to bring in their green vehicle licence forms and receive the correct stickers.

The new stickers should also eliminate a theft problem, because they will break apart if removed from a licence plate, Mr. Caesar said.

Motorcycles will continue to use the old stickers that expire at month's end, he said.

NEW STICKERS -- As of April 1, private car owners are to renew their licence stickers on their birthdays. New licence stickers that are part of the change have arrived at the Transport Control Department, where clerk Mrs. Sandra Talbot was sorting them out.