Vernacular number plates, cards confusing law enforcement agencies
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 02 2021:
The general public and law enforcement agencies are having a hard time with many private vehicle owners particularly four-wheelers using vernacular number plates or names of government departments.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle in this regard, a high ranking police officer observed that many private individuals are increasingly sticking police, army or on-duty tags or departments' names onto their vehicles.
Such a practice is creating confusion among the law enforcement agencies and obstructing them from performing their duty to maintain law and order.
People who have zero connection with the police department are carrying tags of the police department on their vehicles, while some have been found using on-duty tags of some government departments so that they could drive around freely for personal works, attend weddings or other religious functions.
The officer continued that the on-duty tag with the name of the department concerned was initially allowed to prevent government staff from facing any hindrances in carrying out their duty during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, it seems many people have become accustomed to it with time and as such, are still using the tags to this day.
This, in turn, is causing inconveniences to police personnel when carrying out checking and frisking operations for maintenance of law and order.
Thus, the officer urged the Transport Department to write to the departments concerned instructing them to only allow the vehicles utilised for official purposes, to use the tags.
Meanwhile, according to an official of the transport department, the law does not allow the usage of vernacular figures and alphabets in number plates or usage of any tags on private vehicles.
Although there have been exceptions owing to special circumstances, private vehicle owners are liable to pay a fine, if they fail to produce any proof or identification, supporting the usage of the tags.
The High Courts of Hary-ana and Chandigarh had recently passed an order in this regard directing the authority concerned to pull up private vehicle owners using vernacular inscription in place of the registration numbers or using designation tags and make them pay a fine.
First time offenders are liable to pay a fine of Rs 500, while second time offenders are to pay a fine of Rs 1000 .