Ahmedabad Accident Reveals Widespread Vehicle Plate Violations in Gujarat
A tragic accident in Juhapura, Ahmedabad, resulting in the death of a 22-year-old youth, has brought to light what officials are calling a systemic lapse in vehicle registration and enforcement. The incident has exposed a staggering estimate that between 5 lakh and 6 lakh vehicles across Gujarat are operating without valid number plates or with tampered ones, raising serious concerns about road safety and legal compliance.
Traffic Police Data Highlights Alarming Trends
According to traffic police reports, enforcement drives consistently reveal that approximately one out of every ten vehicles checked raises a red flag due to plate-related violations. This statistic underscores the pervasive nature of the problem, which authorities attribute to both dealer negligence and owner manipulation.
"According to rules, no vehicle can be driven out of a showroom without a numberplate. Yet, several dealers deliver vehicles without a valid numberplate despite it being an offence," stated a senior police officer who requested anonymity. This practice, while illegal, appears to be common, as evidenced by social media scans.
Dealer Responsibility and Enforcement Challenges
An additional commissioner of police (traffic), N N Chaudhary, emphasized that enforcement drives routinely detect such violations, with cases registered against offenders. "During checks, we find that about one out of every 10 vehicles either does not have a numberplate or has a tampered one," he confirmed.
Senior RTO officers, speaking off the record, pointed out that the issue is particularly prevalent among two-wheelers and certain high-end and SUV segments. Dealers are mandated to have in-house numberplate installation facilities, but many have failed to set these up, leading to delays and unlawful deliveries. "It is the dealers' responsibility to ensure numberplates are affixed before delivery," one officer noted, highlighting a gap in compliance.
Manipulation and Evasion Tactics
Authorities have also flagged manipulation in older vehicles, where numberplates are altered or completely painted white, allegedly to evade CCTV detection. "In such cases, it is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to get it made again, but the owners do it to avoid being caught on CCTV cameras," explained an officer.
Anecdotal evidence from traffic cops further illustrates the issue. One officer recounted, "Recently, I caught a car which did not have a numberplate. The driver claimed that the numberplate was yet to be delivered. However, when I checked the meter reading, I found that the vehicle had been driven for over 20,000km." This case highlights how violations can persist over long periods without detection.
Systemic Implications and Call for Action
The scale of the problem, as revealed by the Ahmedabad accident, suggests a need for stricter enforcement and dealer accountability. With an estimated 5-6 lakh vehicles in Gujarat affected, this lapse poses significant risks to public safety and law enforcement efforts. Authorities urge vehicle owners and dealers to adhere to regulations to prevent further tragedies and ensure road safety standards are upheld across the state.
