In a joint camera scanner action with police emergency response unit personnel, the unmarked car was stopped in connection with MOT trouble. Having an approved MOT is the owner’s responsibility.

“I can confirm that a car belonging to the police immigration unit had its plates removed today. I don’t know what the reason was, but temporary (red) ones were issued on the spot and the vehicle was allowed to drive on,” the NRPA’s Arne Skybak told local paper Østlending.

The equipment linked to a central computer register also tells officials whether vehicle owners have paid their road tax, insurance, about any technical deficiencies, and owner details. It replaces the need for the coloured number plate stickers that used to be issued annually.

According to the PU’s Cecilie Johansen, “we have a fleet of almost 30 vehicles and are now going to check that all of them have a valid MOT and are in good working order.”

“As far as I know, this is the only car that hasn’t been sent for its (bi-annual) when it should have been, but we’re also going to check this to make sure,” she added.

In perhaps a cruel twist of fate, one of the NPRA’s own vehicles was also stopped and had its plates removed. Owners the Norwegian state had not paid for compulsory insurance coverage for about four months, meaning the van had was driving around uninsured.

"The state, including the NPRA, is primarily a self-insurer. This means we insure our cars,” commented Arne Skybak. “Another insurance company was involved up until March. Something or other happened in this case.”

Both the police and NPRA now have to pay a fine of NOK 1,300 each to get the plates back. 27 vehicles were involved in yesterday’s action.

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