Islamabad Traffic Police have re-launched their campaign against unauthorised vehicle registration plates after a gap of nine months. The last campaign was initiated in January.

During the first two days of the campaign 388 motorists were fined for use of unauthorised or decorative registration plates. Instead motorists were told to use the number plates issued to them by the Excise and Taxation Department.

Capital police officials estimate that about 90 per cent vehicles in the city display registration plates that have not been authorised by the Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department. One of the reasons cited is the low quality of the plates issued by the department, the paint on which starts chipping and peeling within days.

The ITP have carried out similar campaigns a number of times in the past, based on the idea that criminals use fancy registration plates to disguise fake registration numbers. However, the campaigns seem to have limited success as such number plates continue to be widely used. In fact, the trend of getting unusual number plates in colours matching one’s car or using fonts to appeal to aesthetic preferences appears to be growing.

Judging from the number of both the embellished or plain unauthorised registration plates seen around the city, such campaigns only appear to work towards collection of fine money rather than actually putting an end to this trend. However, the amount collected from the fines does not even benefit the ITP directly as it gets deposited into the exchequer.

Senior Superintendent ITP Malik Matloob said: “The trend of using unauthorised and non-pattern registration plates has increased and needs to be checked.”

He clarified that the use of such a registration plate was a violation, not a crime, so the violators would only be fined Rs200.

When asked why the campaign had been launched again even though previous drives had failed, SSP Matloob said: “we live on hope.”

Earlier this year, the capital administration had imposed a ban on the manufacture of non-pattern and unauthorised registration plates in Islamabad.

The ban was imposed under CrPC’s Section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) by District Magistrate – Deputy Commissioner – with direction to the senior superintendents of police, operation and traffic to take strict action against manufacturers and users to curb the practice.

The letter which had been addressed to the SSPs took note of the fact that most vehicles being driven around the capital were not displaying the prescribed number plates issued by the concerned motor registration authority and some cars were even seen being driven without a registration plate.

The letter directed the SSPs to immediately launch a campaign against vehicles being driven without number plates. They were also told that necessary action should be taken under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 and other relevant provisions of law against those using such plates.

But despite the directives, the ITP and the operations wing of the capital police remained unsuccessful in changing this trend. Lack of action in dealing with the manufacturers who continue to operate from different parts of the city is also contributing to the problem.

The continued failure of the authorities to stop motorists from using unauthorised registration plates through these campaigns shows both lack of effort and commitment. The pretext of preventing criminal activities also seems unconvincing as stolen vehicles can only be identified using systems such as those introduced by the capital police last year but which were rolled back for unknown reasons.

The mobile verification system introduced by the capital police got suspended after working successfully for only 39 days in which 269 vehicles were caught.

There were different views over the suspension of the system, as those using it said the facility provided to the policemen was rolled back due to pressure from big-shots.

On the other hand, the officers concerned said it had been suspended for the time being because of the upgradation process.

The officers still claim that the system is being upgraded and shifted to 3G from GSM. “It will be re-launched soon,” they added.

The sources in the police said the mobile phones installed with special software had been given to each checkpost along with the station house officers, subdivisional police officers and superintendents of police to check stolen vehicles and movement of criminals.

The system kept the record of every entry and search with the help of the vehicles’ registration, engine and chassis numbers. Besides, a database of all the record stored by the users of the phones was made on a daily basis. With the help of the database, senior police officers could also judge the performance of the policemen. It was also thought to be an important tool to eliminate corruption at the checkposts. Moreover, once a suspicious vehicle was caught, it could never be released under the influence or recommendation of any big-shot.

During the 39 days the system remained in operation, the police impounded 269 vehicles.

Majority of the vehicles were Mercedes, Pajero and Land Cruisers which were found stolen but being used by well-connected people after tampering with their chassis and engine numbers.

“All of a sudden the mobile phones were collected from the policemen without giving any reason,” sources said. The policemen were told that the phones would be returned to them after upgradation with the addition of new futures to make them more effective. The sources, however, said the phones could have been upgraded while being used by the policemen. Later, the impounded vehicles of the influential people were also handed over to them.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2014

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