From January 1, 2019, all classes of motor vehicles will come fitted with tamper-proof High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) that have a host of in-built security feature.
They are expected to offer increased protection against theft. The HSRP was made mandatory in some States 13 years ago but failed to take off. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) last week published new draft rules that make it mandatory for automobile manufacturers to provide, and dealers to affix, the “security licence plate, including the third registration mark” for all new vehicles manufactured on or after January 1 next year.
The move to rope in automobile manufacturers and the dealers is aimed at ending the monopoly of a few HSRP manufacturers and ensure uniformity in the HSRPs’ quality.
Vehicle manufacturers can themselves produce the HSRP and obtain the Type approval certificate from the Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, or any one of the six testing agencies authorised by the Centre. Alternatively, they could also procure them from an HSRP manufacturer. The HSRPs will come with a 15-year guarantee. They will have in-built 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 was issued by the testing agencies.
A third registration plate, in the form of a self-destructive, chromium-based hologram sticker will be affixed on the inner side of the vehicle’s windshield. The registering authority, registration number, laser-branded permanent number, the engine number and chassis number will all be in the sticker. The registration plate fitted in the rear of the vehicle 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 replacement of an existing registration plate will also be done through the agency responsible for affixing the new plate.
