Punjab police launches crackdown against illegal and fancy number plates.
The Additional Inspector General of Police Punjab, Mirza Faran Baig, has issued fresh directives to all Chief Traffic Officers, including those in Rawalpindi, and District Traffic Officers across Punjab.
Security risk
He emphasized that illegal and fancy number plates make it difficult for the police to identify vehicles involved in crimes and accidents, posing a security risk by allowing offenders to evade justice.
Syed Ghazanfar Ali Shah (SSP HQ), on behalf of AIG Traffic, instructed CTOs and District Traffic Officers to work with the Excise and Taxation Department at the district level.
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They are to start a joint campaign against illegal number plates and unregistered vehicles.
The directive highlighted that some vehicles display “Applied For” (APL) plates, while others have obscured or hidden number plates. This not only violates traffic laws but also prevents effective enforcement.
Incorrect or unreadable numbers on plates make it difficult to trace vehicles in accidents, incidents, or crimes.
Moreover, it hinders the Punjab Safe Cities Authority’s e-challenging system, which relies on clear identification for enforcement.
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The AIG instructed CTOs and district traffic officers to take immediate action to stop this practice.
Apart from penalizing drivers, manufacturers of unauthorized number plates may also face legal consequences.
