Scribbling on number plates will amount to writing on the wall

Writing any name, imprinting picture or displaying ‘Advocate’ or ‘Police’ on the number plates is considered an offence, says official

A view of the ‘erratic’ number plates on vehicles in Puducherry. Photo: S.S. Kumar

Motorists beware! The Transport Department has a word of caution on the use of notings such as ‘Government of Puducherry’, ‘Doctor,’ ‘Advocate’ and ‘Police’ on the number plates of vehicles. This is forbidden by law, the Transport Department has said.

In a formal warning issued on Wednesday, the department said violators risked action under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

The department pointed out that as per Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, there are regulations on the display of number plates of vehicles.

“No rule permits any writing on the display of registration number plate fixed in a vehicle. The letters of the registration mark shall be in English and the figures in Arabic numerals. In the case of transport vehicles, the letters should be in black on yellow background; and in other cases, in black on white background. The letters or numbers should not be written in other colours .

“Writing any name, imprinting picture or displaying ‘Government of Puducherry’, ‘Puducherry State’, ‘Officer’, ‘Doctor’, ‘Advocate’, ‘Police’ on the number plates are offence as per Motor Vehicles Rules” said S.D. Sundaresan, Transport Commissioner.

To fix High Security Number Plate (HSRP), vehicles should be brought to the Transport Office. Fixing fake HSRP is a punishable offence. All vehicle-owners have been cautioned against acts that contravene the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

An official added that even display of ‘press’ on the number plate is not permitted.