X User Questions Number Plate Rule Violation and Asks How These Vehicles Will Be Identified; Pune Police’s Blunt Reply, ‘We Can’t,’ Sparks Criticism

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Reported By Varad Bhatkhande

Pune, 21st January 2025: Number plates are essential for identifying vehicles on roads and keeping records. However, many individuals in Maharashtra fail to properly install number plates according to the guidelines set by the Police and Transport Department. These guidelines include using English letters and numbers and avoiding signs or symbols, but they are often blatantly ignored.

Recently, an X user (formerly Twitter) posted about a vehicle with incomplete and barely visible numbers, questioning how the police would identify it in case of an accident. The Traffic Branch of Pune Police responded bluntly, stating they wouldn’t be able to identify the vehicle.

The original post by @nachiket1982 read: “MH12 100 – That’s the no. on this vehicle’s rear plate. The front plate only says ‘Shambhuraje’. How’s @CPPuneCity to trace this vehicle if it crushes someone on the road or the rider snatches chains? @PuneCityTraffic pls trace this vehicle & take action. Loc: Fountain Road, Kharadi, #Pune”.

The official Pune Police Traffic Branch replied, “No action can be taken as the complete vehicle number is not available.” Following heavy scrutiny on Twitter, they updated their response a few minutes later, stating, “Kharadi Traffic Division has been asked to locate the vehicle and take appropriate action.”

The initial response sparked a debate. One user pointed out that “MH12 100 is not a correct number,” as all vehicle numbers must include alphabets. Another user shared a broader concern, describing a red Swift car with no rear number plate and tinted windows, bearing only the name of a ‘Maharaja of Satara’. They expressed frustration that such practices seem permissible for influential people, while common citizens must follow the rules.

Some users trolled the original account that posted the tweet, accusing the user of having an agenda against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj or being foolish. Others shared similar instances to highlight how common this issue is. One person sarcastically commented, “Shambhuraje fought for the freedom of such idiots so they can do this cr** 300 years later.”

The majority of comments criticized the police administration, not only in Pune but across India, for their perceived lax enforcement of number plate regulations.

To avoid breaking the rules unknowingly, here are the key number plate norms set by the Maharashtra Police:

– All vehicles registered in Maharashtra must have High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) installed by 31st March 2025.
– Number plates must use English letters and Arabic numerals, with black text on a white background for private vehicles and black text on a yellow background for commercial vehicles.
– Plates must include a chromium-based hologram, a laser-etched 10-digit serial number, and a retro-reflective film inscribed with “India.”
– Fancy lettering, artwork, or decorative elements are strictly prohibited on number plates.
– Number plates must be displayed on both the front and rear of the vehicle and adhere to size specifications based on the type of vehicle.