Bengaluru records nearly 10,000 defective number plate cases in 3 weeks: Report

In yet another a sweeping state-wide operation targeting defective number plates, the Karnataka police have booked an impressive 19,448 cases over the past three weeks. Bengaluru led the charge with a staggering 9,684 cases, making it the hotspot for this crackdown, The Hindu reported.
Mysuru, Mangaluru, Belagavi, and Hubballi-Dharwad followed with significantly fewer cases, highlighting Bengaluru’s unique struggle with this issue.
ALSO READ | Bengaluru police debunk viral ‘free ride for women’ hoax, say no late-night lift service available
Alok Kumar, the Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, spoke to reporters and emphasized the rationale behind the drive, saying, “Defiance of law and manipulation must be dealt with firmly. This problem has now extended to other parts of the state and vehicles plying on highways started masking the registration plates either with dirt or with stickers or pieces of clothes to hoodwink enforcement cameras. To counter this, the district police put up checkpoints and intensified highway patrolling to identify or check on offenders. Following this we launched a state-wide special drive.”
The drive aims to tackle these evasive tactics head-on and reinforce legal adherence. The problem, particularly pervasive in Bengaluru, has been a thorn in the side of traffic police for over a year. Despite an earlier special drive in October 2023 that led to 22 FIRs, defective number plates continue to obstruct enforcement efforts.
ALSO READ | Attention Bengaluru! Get ready to go underground shopping as Palike Bazaar opens after six years of construction: Report
The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 stipulates hefty fines of up to ₹5,000 for such violations, and in severe cases, vehicles can be seized and criminal charges filed.
M. N. Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) in Bengaluru, also spoke to the publication and noted that the reintroduction of physical vehicle checks is a crucial step in combating the persistent issue of defective number plates.