Pune’s Regional Transport Office has warned that vehicles displaying unauthorised fancy number plates could face action including registration-related penalties and seizure, as the use of stylised letters, altered fonts, names and decorative designs reportedly increases across the city.
The RTO said registration plates must display the vehicle’s number in a prescribed format and remain clearly readable. Plates that distort letters, alter the shape of numbers, leave unnecessary gaps or add extra text can make it difficult to identify a vehicle during traffic enforcement, officials said.
Vehicle registration numbers are used not only to identify vehicles but also to trace violations through CCTV cameras, traffic police systems and the e-challan network. When characters are modified or obscured, the systems used to read and match registration numbers can be affected.
The Pune RTO said unauthorised number plates are not permitted. Sandeep Khadse, deputy regional transport officer, said vehicles found using plates that do not comply with prescribed standards would face strict action. He also warned that the vehicle’s registration could be cancelled and the vehicle seized when a violation is detected.
The warning covers plates carrying names such as “Dada” or “Bhau”, as well as plates using decorative lettering, non-standard fonts and other personalised designs instead of the legally assigned registration number. The RTO said vehicle owners must use plates that are clear, readable and compliant with government standards rather than modifying them according to personal preference.
The enforcement challenge extends beyond vehicle owners. The report said the RTO plans to conduct a special inspection campaign involving vendors who manufacture number plates in Pune. The proposed checks are intended to examine whether vendors are producing and supplying plates that violate the prescribed specifications. The details of penalties against such vendors were not specified in the report.
The applicable provisions cited by the RTO include Rules 50 and 51 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which prescribe standards for registration plates, including their size, colour, lettering and arrangement according to the type of vehicle. Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, may also apply when a vehicle violates applicable safety standards, according to the report.
The proposed drive places number plates within the wider enforcement chain that connects vehicle registration, road policing and digital monitoring. A readable plate is necessary for authorities to identify vehicles involved in traffic violations and process enforcement through camera-based systems and e-challans. The RTO’s next step is to inspect vehicles and plate-making vendors across Pune as part of the special campaign.
