High Security Registration Plate

All motorised vehicles are fitted with a registration plate (commonly called Number Plate) bearing registration mark, at the front and back, in specific size and colour combination depending upon the class of the vehicle. In India until June 30, 1989, the registration plate system adopted a scheme where the first 2 or 3 alphabets were the state code, followed by unique registration number (numeral upto 4 digits). Some of the older vehicles still carry this valid numbering scheme.

In the early 2000, the number plate colour scheme was changed from white over black to black over white for private non-commercial vehicles, and from black over white to black over yellow for all other class of vehicles. Also in the revised system, first two letters of the registration mark represent the state in which the vehicle is registered and the next two digit (numerals) indicate the sequential number of the district. Third part is a 4 digit number unique to each plate. Once the 4 digit number reaches 9999, a new series is rolled out with “A” letter prefixed and 0001 becomes its first number. Then “B” is added. After the series ends, two letters are added and so on. Interestingly, the whole of A&N Islands is considered a single district (01) and currently registration number in series “G” is being issued.

Such an elaborate and defined coding of registration mark for vehicles have been put in place to remove ambiguity in identifying a vehicle vis-à-vis its state, district of registration and to accommodate increasing population of vehicles. With passage of time various flaws has been discovered in the existing system of display of registration mark. Since number plates in the present system is manufactured, sold and bought in roadside shops in any shape size and design without reference to documentary proof, faking registration mark becomes easy. Also over the counter availability and the ease with which such registration plates could be changed any number of times encourages theft and other vehicle related crimes. On the other hand it becomes extremely difficult for the law enforcers to detect fake among valid registration plates resulting in criminals getting away without being caught. The worst is the reported use of such stolen vehicles with fake registration marks in terrorism related offences.

In order to arrest this undesirable trend and to bring uniformity in display, production and use of registration mark in vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, amended Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicle (CMV) Rules, 1989 mandating use of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) for all class of vehicles throughout the country by 31^st March 2012.

Accordingly HSRP made of 1 mm Aluminium foil with round corners and registration mark with reflective sheets of imperishable nature, guaranteed for at least five years have come into existence. Each HSRP is protected against counterfeiting by hot-stamping a chromium based hologram with chakra and "IND" in blue colour on the left centre of the plate and fitted with tamper-proof, non-reusable Snap Lock from within the premise of registering authority or at a designated place. Thus any attempt to remove the number plate will break the snap lock making it impossible to re-use it or install any other number plate on the vehicle, without the knowledge and or explicit consent of the registering authority.

Fixing of HSRP have started in A&N Islands wef 11/01/2012 and is expected to be completed by 30/03/2012 as per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The RTO/Directorate of Transport, A&N Administration have made elaborate arrangements to fix HSRP on all class of vehicles plying in A&N Islands, including those plying in the outlying islands in a phased and time bound manner.

For those vehicles plying in South Andaman, fixing HSRP is being undertaken from within the workshop premise of Directorate of Transport/RTO. One has to apply in a prescribed form with a copy of the registration certificate. The acknowledgement portion is returned to the applicant with date for remitting the fee inscribed on it. After payment of the prescribed fees, date and time for fixing HSRP is intimated.

Under this present arrangement one has to visit the RTO, 3-4 times for fixing HSRP. First visit for collection of application form, second to submit the form, third to remit the fees and fourth to get HSRP fixed on the vehicle. Such repeated visits exert undue pressure both on the public as well as the HSRP workers and results in crowding and chaotic assembly at the venue. The RTO therefore need to think of simplifying the procedure by collecting the fees at the time of submission of application itself. Alternatively the fee could be collected even at the time of fixing HSRP, thus making the procedure simple, fast and efficient.

It is believed fitting HSRP on 9 crore vehicles, including 6.5 crore two-wheelers across India would bring about uniformity and transparency in registration of vehicles. Since possibility of unauthorized change of registration mark is thwarted, sale and purchase of pre-owned cars and bikes will not be risky anymore. Further computerisation will enable networking of RTO’s which eventually will make compiling vehicle database on national level faster and a lot easier.

And in the future, HSRP fitted with security chip could help in tracking stolen vehicles through satellite monitoring/GPS network thus unauthorised use of vehicles in crimes could be prevented. Additionally traffic offences, hit and run incidents and a range of other vehicle related crimes such as theft, unauthorised use, sale/purchase of stolen vehicles could be brought to a complete halt, benefitting the general public and law enforcement agencies in equal proportions.

This post was carried in the magazine section of The Daily Telegrams on 05/02/2012