insurance of cars.

Mr. Will Francis told Anne-Marie Cumberbatch that the public appeared confused when dealing in the booming second-hand car market.

And he said: "A lot of people have the false notion that it's their car, its already licensed and insured and they can drive away in it. They can't.'' Cumberbatch, 26, Fourth Avenue, Cavendish Heights, Pembroke, admitted driving a Suzuki car without a licence or insurance on Middle Road, Southampton, on January 17.

Cumberbatch told the court that she had driven the car, which she was in the process of buying, because she had lost the bill of sale and had to sign an oath that she was the legal owner.

She added she had also planned to go to the Transport Control Department to licence the vehicle and that she had already paid the ticket for the licence offence.

Cumberbatch also said that, because the car was licensed and insured through the previous owner, she did not have to renew the insurance until it expired.

Fining her $500, Mr. Francis told Cumberbatch: "According to the law what should happen before you touch the car is that you and the old owner should go to TCD, his name should come off and yours should go on.'' Mr. Francis said there had been problems with parking tickets on cycles "for donkey's years'' where the previous owner of the machine was pulled up for non-payment because the change of owner had never been registered.'' He added: "Some of this information has to get around because the public needs to know the rules.''