Number Plate Masking emerging as new challenge for J&K Police

Jammu: ‘Number Plate Masking’ is emerging as a new challenge on the streets for the “overburdened” Jammu and Kashmir cops serving the nation under the motto—‘A Saga of Sacrifice and Courage’.

‘Number Plate Masking’ is notably a practice where a vehicle’s number plate is concealed or altered to evade enforcement cameras and fines by covering the plate either with plastic, adhesive tapes, blocking with a helmet or leg, blackening numbers, or deliberately splashing dirt, paint, or polythene, pranda on the number plates.

“The act of ‘number plate masking’ is illegal and is emerging as a new challenge,” said a senior police officer.

“The violation is often done to evade traffic monitoring cameras and fines. 80% of cases involve dodging CCTVs on signal lights to avoid e-challans.” said the officer.

He said, “The ‘number plate masking’ is an offence punishable under the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) with an imposition of penalty of up to Rs 5000 on defaulters (as per Section 192 (1) of the MV Act,” adding, “In a few cases of false number plates and deletion of digits/letters only, the vehicles are seized and criminal cases are registered.”

“In exceptional cases wherein the vehicles on official duties (including private) like election duty, rallies, and movement of security personnel are permitted for ‘number plate masking’ with a safety/security view point,” the officer said.

“Every time this violation is not being adopted to escape an eye of traffic monitoring gadgets, but tampering with the number plate by the narco-smugglers, thieves, snatchers, eve-teasers, and other criminals cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Speaking to UNI, some of the station house officers posted in several districts of the Jammu region expressing concern said that all those indulging in ‘number plate masking’ have a motive.

“Some youngsters are using the technique to evade traffic cops and some for indulging in criminal activity, but in both cases, it is such an offence that deserves strict action,” they said and added that they have been issued special directions by the top authorities to take stern action against such violations because it also involves a security threat.

The special drives are also being launched from time to time in their respective jurisdictions, and the motorbikes with ‘number plate masking’ parked in the areas were fined on the spot, and some were also seized, the officers said.

“Now regular traffic offenders have also been found manipulating number plates to avoid e-challans, but they have started taking stringent action against such offenders,” they said.

“Driving a vehicle with a faded/tampered number plate on roads is like living with neighbours who do not have identity; that is a huge security risk,” said a senior officer.

He said that miscreants, kidnappers, and anti-national/anti-social elements can leverage that gap to commit heinous crimes because of their masked identity, which needs immediate attention in a sensitive region like Jammu and Kashmir.

A senior rank traffic official told UNI, “The cases of ‘number plate masking’ are being reported, and appropriate action is also being taken.”

“In some cases, FIRs are also being registered and vehicles being seized instead of letting the violators off just by imposing a fine,” the top cop said.

Advocate, Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad, told UNI, “This issue has never come into the notice of the Court, and it is a very serious matter. ‘Number plate masking’ is giving direct access to the criminals to use this tactic, and it should be checked.”

“The district police authorities, along with the traffic police, must launch an aggressive drive and also spread awareness to educate people because timely action can prevent major tragedies,” said the Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad.