Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has urged motorists not to resort to fraudulent methods to evade the city's AI-based traffic monitoring system and instead comply with traffic laws.
Strict action will soon be taken against vehicles with unclear, damaged, distorted or deliberately concealed registration plates, DMP Additional Commissioner Anisur Rahman said at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Tuesday morning.
"We will launch a special enforcement drive shortly. Vehicles with obscured, broken, altered or partially covered number plates will face stringent legal action," he said.
He said artificial intelligence technology plays a key role in identifying vehicle registration numbers and enforcing traffic laws but distorted or hidden number plates make it difficult for the system to accurately detect offending vehicles.
Anisur Rahman said that while previously cases were filed primarily for offences related to number plates, authorities will now take action against both drivers and vehicle owners.
Besides, drivers will face deductions under the demerit point system along with fines stipulated by law.
The warning came after a video circulating on social media showed a motorcyclist intentionally covering the last three digits of his number plate while riding on a city road.
Taking the matter seriously, DMP launched an investigation and identified the rider as Md Lablu Haque, 38.
Police said Lablu was riding a privately owned motorcycle bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-L-16-3659 with the final three digits, "659", concealed using white adhesive tape.
A team from the City Intelligence Analysis Division arrested him on Tuesday and produced him before a court.
Under Section 72 of the Road Transport Act 2018, he was sentenced to 30 days' of imprisonment and fined Tk 2,000.
"This innovative tactic to deceive AI technology is unacceptable under any circumstances," Anisur Rahman said.
"Our objective is not merely to file cases, impose fines or punish people. The primary goal is to raise public awareness so that citizens voluntarily comply with traffic laws. However, if anyone deliberately violates the law, strict legal measures will be taken," he added.
Senior police officials of different ranks and journalists from various print and electronic media outlets were present at the briefing.