Crackdown on riders who covered number plates in front of AI cameras in Kozhikode

MVD and police track vehicles with altered number plates in Kozhikode, imposing fines and suspending licenses under 'Operation Fake Vehicle'.

Enforcement squads of the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) and the police have started tracking vehicles caught on AI cameras with altered or covered number plates at various locations in Kozhikode district.

Under ‘Operation Fake Vehicle’, a special drive held last week, as many as 15 violators were identified. The driving licences of four persons have already been suspended. This is apart from imposing fines of up to ₹98,500 on violators.

“A majority of violators are motorcycle riders who tried to cover the number plates with their hands to evade AI cameras. We have a list of several such vehicles, and they will be exposed in the upcoming flash inspections,” said a motor vehicle inspector. He added that the support of the police would also be sought to zero in on violators.

While checking visuals, MVD squads found that several riders had purposely altered or covered number plates to evade legal action against helmetless rides, speed limit violations, triple riding, and dangerous bike stunts.

As part of the special flash inspections led by Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement) C.S. Santhoshkumar, efforts are on to track vehicles with fake registration numbers.

Meanwhile, the Perambra police have exposed a scooter rider who allegedly used a fake registration number on his vehicle. The scooter was originally registered in Odisha. A police officer said the rider had been using the fake number for around four years. Though he had been caught for rule violations several times, the challan was generated in the name of another person from Mannarkad who legally owned the number, he added.

Police sources said vehicles fitted with fake number plates were mostly used for smuggling and to evade investigations in hit-and-run cases. Flash checking alone would be effective in tracking such violators, they said, adding that the delay in replacing worn-out or fancy number plates would also be taken up seriously.