Fancy number plates will land you in trouble

NOIDA: Now, PAPA, BOSS or similar fancy words in place of the numerical registration number on your vehicle will land you in trouble. The UP transport department has directed the regional transport officers to crack the whip on vehicles with fancy number plates which are difficult to decipher for the enforcement officials. These distorted registration numbers using fancy font styles is also a violation of traffic rules.
The officials said that they have noticed that sometimes the number 4141 is written as PAPA and 8055 is written as BOSS on vehicles. The transport commissioner has asked the regional officials to conduct a drive and fine all such violators. "Vehicle owners who write the number 214 as RAM will attract a fine, the letter of the transport department said.
These twisted fancy number plates make it difficult for the enforcement officials to decode and arrive at the actual number. The registration number plates shall be in compliance with road rules, especially in terms of height, thickness and spacing between the alpha and numeric characters. The Allahabad high court had, on January 25, directed the state government to take action against such violators.
Last November the Uttar Pradesh transport department had announced that both old and new vehicles should wear high-security registration plates (HSRP) to make them safer. The aim was also to curb cases of counterfeiting and duplication. The HSRP is a secure number plate aimed at establishing a uniform pattern of displaying registration marks across the country.
Rachna Yaduvanshi, ARTO (administration) Noida, said the number plate of any vehicle should only have the registration number written clearly. "The Motor Vehicles Act 1988 clearly mentions the specification of the registration number plates. The enforcement officials have been directed to conduct a drive," she said.