Police warn against tampered number plates, term it criminal offence

KARACHI: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Police Pir Muhammad Shah has termed tampering with vehicle number plates a criminal act, warning that those involved should be sent to jail.

Speaking on Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan,” DIG Shah said the use of fake or concealed number plates has increased following the introduction of the e-challan system, as some motorists attempt to evade traffic fines.

He said vehicles found using counterfeit plates or hiding registration numbers would face strict legal action.

The Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS) was launched on October 27 to replace the manual ticketing system with a fully automated e-ticketing mechanism.

Read more: Cars With These Number Plates to Face FIRs in Punjab

The system uses AI-integrated CCTV cameras to detect traffic violations, including over-speeding, red-light jumping, and helmet non-compliance.

DIG Shah acknowledged criticism regarding infrastructure and facilities in Karachi but stressed that the system had already delivered positive results. He said traffic accidents in the city have decreased by 50 percent since the implementation of the e-challan system.

He added that while accidents cannot be completely eliminated anywhere in the world, improved enforcement and discipline can significantly reduce them.

Reiterating the department’s stance, DIG Shah said strict action would continue against motorists violating traffic laws, particularly those using fake or tampered number plates.