RECENTLY, Lahore traffic wardens were empowered to initiate strict legal action against violators of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 97-A pertaining to fabricated vehicle number plates. The police were directed to lodge FIRs against those using outdated, and therefore unauthorised, plates, subjecting the ‘guilty’ ones to a possible prison term of up to two years and a fine of up to Rs200,000. Subsequently, the Lahore traffic police, in collaboration with the Punjab Excise, Taxation, & Narcotics Control Department, launched a massive crackdown, leaving motorists in fear.

Indeed, all licence plate holders must follow the rules. But, as always, the devil lies in the detail. As it turns out, 2.1m applications are pending with the ET&NC for the newer, regularised number plates — a fact admitted to by the body’s director general. Some of the applicants have been waiting since 2019 for this proof of registration. Meanwhile, the excise department’s coffers have swelled by some Rs1.5bn in advance fees paid by the applicants. This is absurd — the fines so far levied have been mainly on the low side but the heaviest penalty prescribed is appalling. The DG offered a curious solution to motorists: that frustrated applicants could have number plates manufactured to mimic the authorised ones. This, while those culpable of more serious offences, particularly in Karachi, such as driving in cars with number plates that are unreadable, fancy or inscribed with AFR (applied for registration) ply our roads with impunity. Many such vehicle owners have sufficient clout to escape the clutches of the law. Such number plates are used to avoid paying tax. And in the case of hit-and-run accidents, fake registration plates make it almost impossible to identify the culprits. Traffic authorities need to set their priorities straight, and stop penalising those who are still waiting to receive their number plates. It is regrettable that those who are trying to follow the law are being targeted for no fault of their own while those driving around with illegal number plates fly under the radar.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022