[Kamikaze]

Originally Posted by Kumar R

Reading your narrative I find your self-restraint very admirable -- it is akin to collaring a thief red-handed and letting him go with a promise that he will return the stolen goods later.

And I, Sir, find your way of writing very admirable. I like how you basically disapproved of my action without seeming to.

No offence taken. I was probably still worried about the possible gun in his right pocket with his trigger happy finger itching to have a go.

[Praveer]

That's a really serious issue. You did take the risk of stopping the vehicle and enquiring about it yourself and letting him go by verbal assurance. That's a risky move to be honest. A better course of action would have been to inform the traffic police about this as well as the RTO. In this way the legal bodies would be taking the action. Also you will be having complaint in written thus safeguarding yourself from any offences which the Fiesta driver might commit with his car.

Lodge a complaint with the concerned government departments with photograph to prove your claim.

Do keep us updated.

Thanks

[baahubali]

@Kamikaze The fact that the driver of the other car was totally relaxed when you stopped him and inquired about the number arises suspicion. Our normal reaction when someone stops in front of us and asks us to pull down the window will definitely not be so calm and relaxed I think. Should definitely file a complaint with the RTO in written and maintain a signed copy of it.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

In Kerala also, we have the "4 digit" rule where one need to have 4 digits in the number plate at any cost. If the registration numbers are less than 4 digits, then the additional numbers should be filled by zeros in the front.

Can you please verify where you got the information regarding Kerala following 4 digit numbering rule?

Originally Posted by thoma

!
Could you please share a link if at all regarding this? I never knew of this. One of our cars were 688 and my neighbors current car is 833. Meantime, I'll check if all the 4 digits are written in his RC document too (I guess it is not).

Kerala Motor Vehicles Department Official site still does not prefix 0. Here is a sample number they have mentioned in the site:

The last part is numerical part starting from 1 to 9999. When the number comes to 9999 a third part is introduced in between the second and last numerical parts. This third part represents the ‘series’ starting from A to Z avoiding ‘I’ and ‘O’. When the series comes to ‘Z’ new series starts from AA to AZ and then BA to ZZ avoiding ‘I’ and ‘O’.
...
examples of registration Number in Trivandrum.

KL-01-AJ-86 (‘KL’ –state code, 01- Office code, AJ-Series, 86-Running Number)

Direct link: http://www.keralamvd.gov.in/index.ph...=71&Itemid=117

My uncle has 444 on his car for which he paid a handsome 10k fees to the RTO. He is not going to like it if he needs to put a 0 in front now!

Even in vehicle details section, they do not display the number with 0 prefixed. My uncle's car is listed as KL-xx-XX-444 in the site.

Moreover, RTO wouldn't want to lose the huge premium that they charge for some of these fancy numbers currently. Once the 0 prefix becomes mandatory, most numbers under 1000 like 111, 222 ... 999 would no longer be worth the premium and they'll lose revenue from these. I seriously doubt if someone would pay over the roof for the single digit numbers if the 0 prefix is made mandatory.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by thoma

...Could you please share a link if at all regarding this? I never knew of this. One of our cars were 688 and my neighbors current car is 833. Meantime, I'll check if all the 4 digits are written in his RC document too (I guess it is not).

Originally Posted by avinash_clt

Maybe recent, but not earlier. My 2009 bike's registration is '55'. I have it on the plate and its the same in RC also. Had got into trouble with the same in delhi and bangalore before, but after showing the RC which was also just two digits, they let me off...

Originally Posted by zenren

Can you please verify where you got the information regarding Kerala following 4 digit numbering rule?
...

Kerala Motor Vehicles Department Official site still does not prefix 0. Here is a sample number they have mentioned in the site:...

Infact that was something discussed during a conversation (couple of years back) and I was told it is a rule. Was trying to find out a link after you guys raised a doubt and I could NOT.

All what I could gather was exactly what @zenren posted above. To double check, I also tried finding a link about the list of fancy numbers (which was listed sometime back on the Kerala MVD site?), but could NOT find that link either.

If I remember correctly, some of the numbers listed down (among fancy numbers) were single, double and triple digits with NO reference to 0s anywhere. So I guess that was a fake information. Apologise for the confusion!

I just remembered my friend's car sports a 747 and NO 0s in that!

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by zenren

Moreover, RTO wouldn't want to lose the huge premium that they charge for some of these fancy numbers currently. Once the 0 prefix becomes mandatory, most numbers under 1000 like 111, 222 ... 999 would no longer be worth the premium and they'll lose revenue from these. I seriously doubt if someone would pay over the roof for the single digit numbers if the 0 prefix is made mandatory.

I agree with you. When the number plate is being made, one should see what is given the RC book and just follow the same.

Anurag.

[av8er]

Originally Posted by k_ajay

In both Chennai and B'lore, I've seen cars with a single digit number. For ex: TN07 MK 6. Single digits are a premium/fancy number and can be availed by paying more.

Such customers need not use '0' in the beginning to make it a 4 digit number. No surprise you got pulled up as Cops seldom have all the knowledge. (even if some do, they'll seize opportunity to hassle the lesser aware individuals).

I do not know about Bangalore but in Tamil Nadu I know for a fact that you do not have single digit registrations. If you check the RC it will clearly say for ex: TN07 MK 0006, where the '0' has to be added when writing a number plate.

I had confirmed this with a friend who works in the RTO and he said yes the system does not accept just a single digit. Its called a fancy no but still you have to add the zeros.

If you see the new security number plates you do not get them without the zeros. The reason being that it is the way the RTO accepts it.

[Kumar R]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

When the number plate is being made, one should see what is given the RC book and just follow the same.

Originally Posted by av8er

If you see the new security number plates you do not get them without the zeros. The reason being that it is the way the RTO accepts it.

I had a few thoughts on this

(1) There is no necessity for the registration plate to mirror the RC book. Mathematically (and this is not restricted to car numbers registration only) '0081' is the same as '81'. However given the possibility of confusion and error involved at spotting a number plate over a distance and also keeping in mind the possibility of misuse / tampering (as OP found out) it is quite reasonable for RTOs to ensure that number plates display extra zeros in single, double and triple digit registration number. Consequently there could be a rule that '81' must be displayed as '0081' on plates as a precaution.

Now the RC book may state just '81' - it is immaterial in that context - but that does not mean the registration plate has to display just '81' - nor would a rule requiring such display be inconsistent with the RC numbering (assuming extra zeros are not displayed in RC).

A similar example is in computer printed Demand Drafts (or interest warrants) issued by some banks where small amounts are printed as Rs 0000xxx - it is only a precaution because the DD is a payment instrument and the consequences of fraud or mistake are severe. For all other purposes (such as application form, passbook, etc. the amount will be printed and quoted as Rs xxx only)

(2) The issue of 'fancy numbers' is an example of poor communication by RTOs. Technically the fancy number (as we know it) is described as an 'advance reservation of registration mark'. There is nothing to indicate that such [fancy] numbers get any special status in relation to display on registration plates. If someone paid Rs 10-20k for a number like '99' he or she is no different from some who was [sequentially] alloted '71' and if the rule is that 71 must be displayed as 0071 than 99 should also be displayed 0099.

(3) Some indicator of the legality of whether or not a non four digit number should be displayed as xx or 00xx can be gauged from the annexure to the HSRP Order issued by the Central Government in 2001 (see below). I believe it can put at rest any doubts on whether the addition of zeroes is needed.



(4) At least in Kolkata I am yet to sight an HSRP vehicle without 'filler' zeros (in case of less than four digit registration mark)

[zenren]

Originally Posted by Kumar R

The issue of 'fancy numbers' is an example of poor communication by RTOs. Technically the fancy number (as we know it) is described as an 'advance reservation of registration mark'. There is nothing to indicate that such [fancy] numbers get any special status in relation to display on registration plates. If someone paid Rs 10-20k for a number like '99' he or she is no different from some who was [sequentially] alloted '71' and if the rule is that 71 must be displayed as 0071 than 99 should also be displayed 0099.

I was not speaking about the existing vehicles. That can be handled by one line of law with retrospective effect clause even if current law is insufficient. And moreover, government already got the money from these owners and hence would not be bothered about them.

The issue I was highlighting is the possible revenue loss in future from these numbers. In Kerala, there are different base prices according to each number that you need to pay even if no one else wants that number and it doesn't go to auction. Anyone who chose 1 would have paid 1L even if there was no auction.

The reason for the above implementation was because some of the potential auction candidates for 9999 & 1 (two numbers that usually fetch the max amount) started gaming the system by arriving at a mutual understanding before the auction that they wouldn't compete with each other in the auction and picked one number each. This led to both these numbers getting sold for amounts like 10k or even less. If government went to such pains to retain this revenue in the past, they are likely to do anything they can even in future.

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

To double check, I also tried finding a link about the list of fancy numbers (which was listed sometime back on the Kerala MVD site?), but could NOT find that link either.

They have integrated the list of fancy numbers with with the number booking history section instead of a dedicated section since there are different categories of 'fancy numbers' now. Going through the running series or the just completed one, you can see the current reserve price for each number. 999/9999 costs 50k base price while 1 tops the list with 1L.

https://smartweb.keralamvd.gov.in/km.../fancybook.php

[nda992]

The fact that both the front and rear plates had the '3' wiped out clearly means that the person driving it maybe a frequent traffic law offender.
There are many such varieties in NCR.
I feel you must report the matter to the cops immediately.

[Karadi]

Originally Posted by ani_meher

No! It's mathematics. 007 = 0007 = 00000000007. 007 <>0070! You can drop zeros at left, not at right (unless the number plate is in Urdu )

Sir, your mathematical explanation cannot be right - we are discussing the issue of either stand alone digits or system of four digits.
In the event of 0070 being tampered and made to look like 007 would you care to take up the role of the law enforcer and not that of
a math teacher ?

[vinu99@gmail.co]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Infact that was something discussed during a conversation (couple of years back) and I was told it is a rule. Was trying to find out a link after you guys raised a doubt and I could NOT.

All what I could gather was exactly what @zenren posted above. To double check, I also tried finding a link about the list of fancy numbers (which was listed sometime back on the Kerala MVD site?), but could NOT find that link either.

If I remember correctly, some of the numbers listed down (among fancy numbers) were single, double and triple digits with NO reference to 0s anywhere. So I guess that was a fake information. Apologise for the confusion!

I just remembered my friend's car sports a 747 and NO 0s in that!

I got a 747 and the RC Smart card lists the number as 747. Can we assume it is OK in Bangalore to print the RC displayed number on the plates? I did pay a small premium for the number and would not have paid it if the zero prefix rule existed!

[Soumyajit9]

Another scary number plate, spotted on ORR, Bangalore.

[abirnale]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

I have another query. Do RTOs issue 3 digit numbers like 681? I have a feeling it is always either 0681 or 6810 and few people intentionally omit the 0 to look "cool and happening". Does your number has a 0 as prefix or suffix? It should have one of the two in which case your number plate is equally faulty and if it had that 0 then the 2 numbers are different regardless of whether the other driver's car had a 3 or not.

Mine is 0709 - my birthdate by co-incidence. The dealer had put 709 on the number plate during the delivery. It also is registered in their vehicle database as 709 and not as 0709.

I later changed number plates to HSNP - 0709. My RC card and all other documents have 0709.

So my take on this is - RTO nowadays issues numbers in proper format. The trimming of the digits is possible only if the number is <=999 and not beyond. For suffix to be omitted, it must be considered as an offence. Removing the prefix, if number is <=999, will not invite any issues from RTO. I was once fined for over speeding (Off NH4 into Belgaum, 120Kmph to 30kmph change over, hard to notice). The officer entered my car number in his blackberry wrongly. The number wasn't mine. But I did not realise it then. After few months I checked the online, and found my car to have no fines from past or present (I will make sure in future I don't get any!). I checked the receipt - the number had a "?" in it. So no one else got this on their name too!

Long story short, my number on paper is 0709 and I can use 709 or 0709. No issues whatsoever so far.

Now try relating this to your passport where the spelling is off by just a letter. For example - Vinod and Vinodh. They are different. So if someday an officer fines you for not having the number in sync with the paper, he would be damn right IMHO.

And this is exactly why the delivery check-sheet carries this check - "Check if the names, numbers and addresses are correct and consistent on all documents, vehicle!"

And now coming back to the original question - Just post this to facebook page of BTP or message them with photo and record the conversation in the Screen shots/ PDF. You are done from your side.

Hope this helps.

[ramneek009]

Yesterday afternoon cops visited my warehouse in Delhi to inquire about one of my car's registration no. The guard on being questioned calls me and says that a cop wants to speak to me urgently.

What happens next is truly shocking.

The cop informs me that a case has been registered against my car's registration no. as it was used as an ATTEMPT TO MURDER tool on 3rd september 2014 in Vivek Vihar, Delhi. On being further questioned they revealed that a vento bearing exact same registration no. was used b/w 3:00 am to 8:00 am for criminal activity.

As of now, we have given them all the details they required and have promised full co-operation whenever required.

PS: The cops visited warehouse as it is the address specified on RC.