All four-wheeled vehicles must display an electronic tag by July 1 as Bermuda's modernised registration system kicks in.

Under the Electronic Vehicle Registration programme — which aims to crack down on illegal vehicles — small stickers which each contain a unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag have been placed in the windshield of vehicles.

From July 1, traffic officers will begin using handheld devices, mobile units and RFID tag readers placed around the Island to electronically check vehicles are registered and insured.

The machines capture images of vehicles with no tags and send that information to the authorities.

Of around 30,000 vehicles which need to be tagged, 3,000 have not yet complied. Their owners need to go to TCD or Bull's Head car park to get tags within the next two weeks.

Bermuda loses an estimated $11 million every five years due to 5,000 unlicensed vehicles being on the road at any one time. Government hopes to reduce the number of unlicensed vehicles from the current seven percent to less than one percent.

Michelle Walkes, IT project consultant at the Transport Control Department, said law-abiding motorists were currently forced to pay higher fees because of those cheating the system.

She told The Royal Gazette: "We are putting the tags on vehicles to cut down the amount of violating vehicles on Bermuda's roads.

"People who do follow the laws and pay the fees are getting increasing fees and taxes because people are not paying.

There is also the problem with uninsured vehicles getting into accidents and people not being able to get it covered on their insurance. The victims are often the people playing by the rules."

After July 1, any vehicles without tags will be illegal, and their drivers will face fines for driving unlicensed vehicles.

A fine of up to $10,000 is in place for those convicted of removing or tampering with windshield stickers and tags.

To get your tag, go to TCD between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the week, or the Bull's Head from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, or call 292-1271 ext. 2007 for more information.