Correspondent|THE Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) has begun taking advantage of the ongoing fuel crisis to pounce on unregistered vehicles in fuel queues.

The VID, working in conjuction with the police, are also smoking out motorists driving without a valid drivers’ license, checking for car registration, insurance and all other required documents.

The operation has drawn mixed reactions from Zimbabweans.

Motorist Brain said “Maybe it’s just me, but I see absolutely nothing wrong, why would one drive without a licence or why should one’s car be on the road when it’s not supposed to be? “

Amos Moyo said: ” I find it inhumane. You can’t beat a man when he is down, people sleep in queues and you make that an opportunity to collect fines! Are garages public or private spaces?”

Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza yesaterday was reported as having said: “People were given a deadline and those that complied have no reason to be scared.

“We are after those that have failed to regularise their licenses as required by the law. Beginning today (yesterday), we will have officers inspecting all fuel queues to check vehicle registration and related issues.”

The latest move will also help us deal with those using unregistered vehicles as conduits to hoard fuel for resale on the black market.

Some people have taken advantage of the reduction of the number of police roadblocks to avoid paying their vehicle licences, which has put a dent on the government’s revenues.

Matiza said some of the cars targeted for deregistration were being used for hoarding fuel.

“The latest move will also help us deal with those using unregistered vehicles as conduits to hoard fuel for resale on the black market,” he said.