Cost of 'cherished' registration numbers on DOI vehicles

Summary

The requester asked for costs and policy details regarding cherished registration numbers on Department of Infrastructure Public Transport vehicles since 2015. The authority disclosed that no costs were incurred for these plates, confirmed there is no specific policy, and refused to answer questions requiring the creation of new information.

Key Facts

• No costs have been incurred by Public Transport for cherished marks or transfers since 2015.
• There are currently 13 cherished marks used on Public Transport vehicles.
• One of the cherished marks is not owned by the Department of Infrastructure.
• The Department pays an annual retention fee for one cherished mark not currently on a vehicle.
• There is no formal policy in place for putting cherished plates on Public Transport vehicles.

Data Disclosed

• 2015
• 13 cherished marks
• 1 cherished mark not owned by DOI
• 1 cherished mark not on a vehicle
• 2024-08-23
• 2024-09-11
• 4080525

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps
• Request would require the Department to create or derive information, which is not required under the Act

Original Request

Please supply the costs incurred since 2015 for putting 'cherished' registration numbers on vehicles (cars, vans, buses and trucks) over and above the standard cost of registering a new vehicle operated by the various sections within the Public Transport division of the DOI. Also, what costs have been incurred in putting 'cherished' registration numbers on vehicles already registered? Why have previously registered vehicles been subsequently registered with 'cherished' registration numbers? Who is the instigator of this policy? What is the rationale for this policy?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 4080525 10 September 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 23 August 2024, which states:

"Please supply the costs incurred since 2015 for putting 'cherished' registration numbers on vehicles (cars, vans, buses and trucks) over and above the standard cost of registering a new vehicle operated by the various sections within the Public Transport division of the DOI. Also, what costs have been incurred in putting 'cherished' registration numbers on vehicles already registered?

Why have previously registered vehicles been subsequently registered with 'cherished' registration numbers?

Who is the instigator of this policy?

What is the rationale for this policy?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested.

I have detailed below the information that is held.

No costs have been incurred to Public Transport in putting cherished marks on Public Transport vehicles or transferring cherished marks since 2015.

There are currently 13 cherished marks being used on Public Transport vehicles, one of which is not owned by the Department of Infrastructure.

In addition, there is one cherished mark that is not on a vehicle and the Department pays an annual retention fee for this. There is no policy in place in putting cherished plates on Public Transport vehicles.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your third request would require the Department to create or derive information from information that it holds.

Which the Department is not required to do under the Act.

Please quote the reference number 4080525 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

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If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.