REARVIEW:WHILE THE crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of our recent State visitors, eagle-eyed car nuts were just as eager to catch a glimpse of the armour-plated limos and escort cars. And they weren't let down.
Quite apart from President Obama’s Cadillac being stymied by a Dublin speed ramp, those of us who go to bed reading Ludlum, le Carré and Fleming will have been drooling over the armoured BMW chase cars, brought in for the occasions by BMW Ireland, not to mention the armoured royal Range Rover.
Bulletproof plexiglass, temperature sensors that automatically deploy fire extinguishers, ventilation systems that can see off a gas attack – all of the things we expect from special protection transport fleets. But these were on Irish number plates mismatched with the UK tax discs. How did 11-D registrations get there? We tried asking the Garda press office. “Unfortunately for security and operational reasons, we would not discuss these issues” was the reply. Fair enough. Undaunted, we tried Revenue, which would have issued the plates.
“Facilities are available whereby, in unique circumstances, a registration number may be issued without the usual requirements of registration. These include circumstances of national security. Because of the sensitivity of these circumstances, details of the registration numbers issued and the procedures underpinning these registrations are not publicised,” said a spokesperson.
But wait: according to Revenue, it is illegal to display an Irish number plate on a vehicle that hasn’t been legally registered here. We were by now considering a citizen’s arrest.
However, such thoughts are quickly struck out. If the cars were treated as diplomatic vehicles, then they’re not liable for tax – so one can assume that any registration red tape could also be waived.
And those considering a little more protection in their motoring lives need not be planning to pick up these cars from their local BMW dealer as low-priced used models with one relatively careful owner. These cars are all heading back to the UK.
So we probably can't buy one. And we can't even enjoy scolding gardaí for driving cars that weren't properly imported. Ah well. Where's my dog-eared copy of The Spy Who Came in from the Coldgone to? Back to the fantasies...