From April 1, all classes of motor vehicles hitting the road and being registered in Kerala will come fitted with tamper-proof high-security registration plates (HSRP) that have a host of inbuilt security features. Automobile manufacturers will provide the “security licence plate, including the third registration mark”, to their approved dealers, who will place a mark of registration on such plates and affix them on all new vehicles. “No vehicle shall be sold in the State on or after April 1 without the HSRP,” Principal Secretary of Transport K.R. Jyothilal said in an order to the State Transport Commissioner and all vehicle manufacturers and dealers.
The HSRP has to be affixed in all motor vehicles defined under Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and as per the prescribed standards notified by the Union government on December 6, 2018. The automobile manufacturers had been asked to ensure that the requisite infrastructure is available with their dealers.
The HSRPs will come with a 15-year guarantee. They will have inbuilt security features such as a self-destructive sticker with the engine and chassis number of the vehicle. The plates will be fitted on the front and rear of the vehicles and windscreens will have a number plate tag with hologram.
A chromium-based hologram will be applied by hot-stamping on the top left corner of the number plates, both at the front and back. A permanent identification number with a minimum of 10 digits will be laser-branded into the reflective sheeting on the bottom left of the registration plate. The permanent number will be preceded by two alphabets indicating the name of the vendor, manufacturer, or supplier, for whom the type approval certificate is issued. A third registration plate, in the form of a self-destructive, chromium-based hologram sticker will be affixed on the inner side of the wind shield.
The registering authority, registration number, laser-branded permanent number, the engine number and chassis number will all be on the sticker. The registration plate fitted in the rear will be fastened with a non-removable/non-reusable snap lock system. For enhanced security, two snap locks will be used in the HSRP affixed in the rear. The cost of the HSRP will be included in the price of the new vehicle.
Existing vehicles will have to go for the HSRP but only once old plates have been surrendered and destroyed. The task will be done by the dealers on payment basis. ‘‘The HSRP will cost around ₹500 for a car. No time frame has been given for the existing vehicles to change to HSRP,” Joint Transport Commissioner Rajeev Puthalath said.
Through uniform HSRP and security features, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways move is to curb vehicle theft and enable easier tracking of lost and stolen vehicles
