Government clamps down on fancy number plates

CHENNAI: Cracking down on fancy registration number plates, the State Government has set a deadline for all vehicle owners to comply with norms of display of number plates by the end of this month or have their registration certificate suspended. “Every motor vehicle shall display the registration number on the number plate with the specification of Rule 50 & 51 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989,” the office of the Transport Commissioner said.This spells trouble for all vehicle owners with fancy registration plates, as they will have to fix a proper registration number by the end of this month. If they fail to do so, action will be initiated to suspend their registration certificate under section 53 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.The government’s decision comes in the wake of several complaints from various parts of the State that some vehicles do not comply with the rule’s provisions and instead, display the registration number as per their whims and fancies.The Transport Department’s enforcement officials were directed to conduct intensive checks on the violation of the norms of registration of number plates and to ensure their proper fixing in accordance with provisions of rules 50 & 51 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.