Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Answers to Questions Motor Vehicle Security MOTOR VEHICLE SECURITY The Hon. J.A. DARLEY Legislative Council MOTOR VEHICLE SECURITY In reply to the Hon. J.A. DARLEY (6 May 2008). The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business MOTOR VEHICLE SECURITY The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business): The Minister for Transport has provided the following information: 1.	Both the vehicle identification number and licence plate number are displayed on registration labels to assist with law enforcement and aid in the prevention of crime, particularly where a vehicle has stolen number plates fitted. The information displayed on registration labels allows enforcement officers to confirm that the registration label and number plates affixed to a vehicle are correct for that vehicle and the vehicle is in fact the vehicle it purports to be. It also provides vehicle buyers with a simple consumer protection tool by allowing vehicle buyers to check that the vehicle is actually the vehicle it purports to be. 2.	The coding of vehicle identification numbers is not considered necessary from a vehicle theft point of view. Vehicle identification numbers are not private information and can often easily be found displayed on a vehicle. In some instances the vehicle identification number is clearly displayed under the front windscreen of the vehicle often below where the label is affixed. 3.	The Minister for Transport is not directly aware of other situations where vehicle identification numbers have been abused in order to aid the theft of motor vehicles. However it should be noted that the abuse of vehicle identification numbers is a common practice used by vehicle thieves in an attempt to disguise a stolen vehicle by using the vehicle identification number from another similar legitimate vehicle.