The Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) will be stepping up checks on cars with foreign license plates, Deputy Finance Minister Pantelis Economou informed Parliament.

Economou said that 272 vehicles displaying foreign plates were stopped in the first half of 2011, with 142 offenses recorded. Economou said the checks were being intensified as a result of a number of companies in northern Greece helping drivers trade in their Greek license plates for Bulgarian ones, thereby avoiding the annual road tax and increases in taxation.

This option has been particularly attractive for owners of luxury vehicles, which are subject to higher tax. S

ource: Kathimerini