Police are beefing up their enforcement of cars with no number plates and drivers involved in dangerous racing and rash driving in a growing number of crashes, speeding, and driving in a rash manner; they say they’re worried about public safety and excessive traffic violations. It is a drive by traffic police and traffic enforcement agents in the city. Residents of the city are increasingly concerned about drivers’ bad driving habits on city roads, particularly in the late-night hours and weekends, they say, and in the city’s roads.
According to officials, vehicles without registration number plates are a major challenge for law enforcement agencies. Vehicles with such vehicles are so difficult to see and so difficult to identify, with automated traffic control systems and eyewitness accounts, that offenders can escape responsibility for traffic violations or accidents.
Police said some drivers have deliberately removed or concealed number plates and even taken part in illegal street racing or dangerous stunts on public roads and also performed dangerous stunts, and even more drivers are found to have done so, which is illegal and may not only violate the Motor Vehicles Act, but there are serious dangers to pedestrians, commuters, and any other road users as well.
As part of recent enforcement activities, traffic enforcement officers have been observed by traffic police caught numerous vehicles in the driving enforcement personnel caught people with invalid number plates, and traffic police in recent enforcement operations of traffic officers responding to traffic enforcement officers in the past month, police observed vehicles that were found to be driving without proper number plates, or modified plates were identified and drivers had so many cars without valid number plates for which they were found without valid number plates or vehicles with modified plates that obscured the drivers were detected or modified number plates that obscured identification, they also arrested drivers for driving with an official identified a number plate that is not listed as valid or with vehicles that are believed to have no valid number plates and with altered plates that obscured identification documents and drivers in the last few vehicles.
Illegal street racing is prevalent in many urban areas. Drivers often gather in the wide roads, flyovers, ring roads, and highways when they are less busy (off-peak hours) to race at high speed. These types of activities increase the risk of collisions, loss of control of the vehicle, and accidents on the road, and at times have the potential for death.
Driving too fast reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of crashes, experts say. Even experienced drivers might face difficulty in blocking obstacles or sudden movements of pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles moving at high speed when driving at high speed.
Police said number plates were not in place and that accidents were harder to identify when they were prevented. In most hit-and-run cases, such registration details are never revealed or deleted. Police noted that the display of a valid registration plate is a legal requirement and integral to accountability on the public roads.
At the same time, law enforcement agencies are deploying CCTV surveillance, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras where available, mobile patrols, and night enforcement drives to catch violators. Officers are also conducting random vehicle inspections at major intersections and known racing hotspots.
Drivers who break traffic laws are liable for fines, seizure of vehicles, suspension of driving licences, and legal action under relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and other laws. If reckless driving causes injury and/or loss of life, more serious criminal charges may also be pursued.
Road safety advocates have welcomed this increased enforcement, arguing that strict action against habitual offenders is necessary to deter dangerous behaviour. They point out that responsible driving is a shared responsibility and that compliance with traffic rules helps protect everyone using public roads.
Young drivers are commonly misrepresented in illegal racing cases, but more awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and driving institutes should be carried out to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding, distracted driving, and reckless driving behind the wheel, they say.
As such citizens have been asked to report dangerous driving or illegal racing, or vehicles that have no number plates, directly to the police and to submit a complaint to traffic control. Prompt reporting can help in identifying repeat offenders and prevent a collision from occurring.
The traffic police have said enforcement operations against no-number-plate vehicles and rash driving will continue on a regular basis. And the goal is not just to impose penalties, but rather to prevent traffic accidents because the goal is to make roads safer, encourage safe and responsible driving habits, and reduce accidents caused by negligent and illegal driving, said officials.
Authorities remain adamant that drivers should follow traffic laws, keep their vehicle documentation in order, maintain proper registration plates, and wear safety gear where applicable. They stress that it is also important to follow traffic laws to keep our roads safe for all road users. The drivers who violate the law may be fined and be placed under suspension of driving licences suspended in some cases, and may be subject to the law of the Motor Vehicles Act as part of the same. In any case where reckless driving results in injury or loss of life, more serious charges can be brought against them.
Road safety advocates have welcomed the increased enforcement, arguing that strict action against habitual offenders is necessary to deter dangerous behaviour. They believe that driving is a shared responsibility, and compliance with traffic rules is essential for public road safety. They say that all of us need to follow them and we should not tolerate violations, emphasizing the need to enforce the law and ensure safety regularly.
Experts also point out that young drivers are often overrepresented in cases involving illegal racing. Schools, colleges, and driving institutes should take a new look at speeding, distracted driving, and reckless driving.
Citizens are encouraged to report dangerous driving, illegal racing, or vehicles with no number plates directly to the police and through traffic complaint portals. Prompt reporting can help to identify repeat offenders and prevent accidents before they happen.
No number plate - racing / rash driving .
— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) July 5, 2026
Please check @ChennaiTraffic .
Video by me . Date - July 5 . 9:30 pm , Porur junction . pic.twitter.com/kN5PDV8s2S
Traffic police said they are continuing to enforce against no-number-plate vehicles and rash driving regularly. The intent is not only to impose penalties but to promote safer roads, responsible driving, and to stop accidents caused by negligent and unlawful driving, officials said.
Authorities urge all drivers to obey traffic laws, maintain valid vehicle documentation, display proper registration plates, wear safety gear, and drive responsibly.
