Some might ask, ‘What’s in a name?’ Well, apparently, a hefty fine if you replace your motorcycle’s number plate with it. A Royal Enfield rider from Gwalior made a bold move that most people would never dream of. The motorcyclist swapped his bike’s number plate for his name, ‘Harsh’. A harsh reality came crashing in the Etawah Police slapped him with a fine of Rs 32,000.
Is it a harsh call?
Customising your vehicle is not something new, especially among Royal Enfield enthusiasts as they love adding a personal touch to their motorcycles, but much within the law. According to a video uploaded on Reddit, a certain Harsh Vardhan came up with a genius idea. Instead of applying for a customized number plate, he decided to remove the number and replace it with his name. Little did he know that this is illegal and he received a fine of Rs 32,000. The original registered number plate is MP 07 ZF 5466.
Why is it illegal?
According to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, having a registered number plate is mandatory for all vehicles in India. The unique registration number assigned by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) reveals the state code followed by the RTO code then letters and numbers. The number plate has to be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle.
Advantages of High-Security Registration Plates
All the vehicles have to use High-Security Registration Plates (HSRPs). These plates enhance security with unique holograms, laser-etched codes, and unique identification numbers making it difficult to counterfeit them. This also helps the police to identify the vehicle for any pending traffic violations. The HSRPs make it difficult for thieves to replicate or modify the plates.
