[AshSimmonds]

Number's up for number plates

THE number plate will soon be a thing of the past in the Territory.

New registrations will have two letters, followed by two numbers and then another two letters.

They will all begin with the letter C, which was allocated to the Territory by a national committee.

Transport Minister Gerry McCarthy said he would have liked the letter N, but that went to New South Wales.

The plates will still be made in ochre and white by prisoners at Alice Springs jail.

New plates are being introduced because the Territory numbering system is almost full with one million registered vehicles.

Most of the vehicles are no longer on the road but the Transport Department said it would be too time-consuming and expensive to reclaim old plates.

Mr McCarthy said the new plates would be issued within six to 12 months.

Personalised number plates - which are sub-contracted to a private company - will continue to be sold for $140, one of cheapest rates in the world.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/10/23/95191_ntnews.html