Customs Officers in Donegal have collected almost €580,000 in VRT and penalties and seized 147 vehicles since January as part of their clampdown on Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) evasion. 

And they have issued 307 warnings in relation to VRT in Donegal so far this year. The number of cars seized has risen by over 31% since 2008 and Customs has also collected an additional €40,000 in penalties and VRT in 2009, as compared to the same period last year. 

On Wednesday, Gardai and Customs Officers stopped a number of cars on the Ballybofey-Letterkenny road to check for VRT infringements and road traffic offences. Multi-agency border operations of this type have been stepped up since March. 

VRT provides a valuable revenue stream for the Government. In the first six months of 2009, the Donegal Town office registered 4,895 second-hand vehicles and collected over €10.5 million in VRT/VAT. 

A spokesperson told the Post that the Revenue’s Customs service “maintains a focus on VRT enforcement throughout the year but, at regular intervals, concentrate on problem areas.”