Own a car, bike? Beware! You can be sent to jail if you don't take this step now

Those who don't comply will have to pay a fine or even risk going to jail. However, new car owners need not worry as all new cars come pre-fitted with regulation licence plates. Only the owners of older cars and bikes will reportedly have to install a high-security number plate before October 13, 2018.

Vehicle owners in Delhi face the prospect of hefty fine and even a jail term if they fail to get high security number plates by October 13. Representational Image, source: Reuters

Vehicle owners in Delhi face the prospect of hefty fine and even a jail term if they fail to get high security number plates by October 13. The transport department has announced that it will launch a crackdown against such vehicles from next month. Notably, the Supreme Court in 2012 had directed all the states and Union Territories to ensure high security registration plates for all vehicles by June 15 of that year. The apex court had also asked that if they failed to comply they would face contempt of court proceedings.

Delhi's transport department plans to crack down on vehicles without the new number plates from next month, said a Times of India report. "According to our estimates, there are close to 40 lakh vehicles, including both four-wheelers and two-wheelers, that do not have high security registration plates," a transport department official said.

Accordingly, those who don't comply will have to pay a fine or even risk going to jail. However, new car owners need not worry as all new cars come pre-fitted with regulation licence plates. Only the owners of older cars and bikes will reportedly have to install a high-security number plate before October 13, 2018.

The process of changing to high-security number plates will reportedly start from October 2. These number plates were first rolled out in Delhi in April 2012.

The official told ToI, "At present, there are 13 centres authorised to fix the new plates. We plan to refurbish these centres as a huge rush is expected in the coming days. Public awareness programme and advertisements in newspapers will also be carried out."

The vehicle owners will have to bear the cost of these plates, which will reportedly be priced at Rs 67 for two-wheelers and Rs 213 for four-wheelers.

Notably, the high-security licence plates, which are made of aluminium and are wrapped in reflective tapes, are tamper proof and equipped with self-destructive holograms. These plates also have a laser-branding of the vehicle's 10-digit Permanent Identification Number, making them less prone to theft.

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The move is targeted at around 40 lakh vehicles with older number plate formats plying on the national capital's roads.

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