Chennai’s roads are increasingly witnessing two‑wheelers, cars and autos operating without the basic identifier of a number plate. Some vehicles even bear political party names or symbols. Riders, especially youngsters, also frequently drive on the wrong side of the road and enter one‑way streets in the wrong direction.
Commuters on Vandalur Road, T. Nagar, Nungambakkam, Anna Nagar and Mogappiar have told The Hindu that vehicle checks are infrequent and that traffic police do not monitor violations daily. Sudarshan, who commutes through Vandalur regularly, asked why the police should take strict action, noting that routine checks are needed not only during peak hours but throughout the day and night. He added that if a vehicle without a proper registration number is used to commit a crime, how can the Crime Branch or investigators trace it?
A traffic police officer in T. Nagar said that the police do conduct checks and fine motorists found without registration numbers. However, when caught, many motorists claim the vehicle is new and will get the number plate affixed soon, or that it is old and they are taking it to fix the plates. The officer said most of the offenders are college students and young boys. Another officer noted that such vehicles often evade checks during peak hours and late evenings when traffic is heavy, and suggested deploying more police personnel at critical locations to curb the practice.
A senior City Traffic police official said that complaints received through social media about overspeeding, stunts, unauthorised parking and driving without number plates are fined regularly. He added that in several places, based on complaints about wrong‑side driving, teams of traffic enforcement officials conducted surprise road checks at important junctions across the city and penalised nearly two lakh violators in the first week of September.
