A bike caught during the drive against fancy number plates near Tata Pigment gate in Jugsalai on Friday. (Bhola Prasad)

Dress up your car or bike with care. For, any mismatched accessory will leave your wallet lighter before Durga Puja.

Police in Jamshedpur are cracking down on vehicles violating number plate norms prescribed under the Central Motor Vehicles Act.

A spurt in crimes like snatching by bike gangs has prompted East Singhbhum SSP Richard S. Lakra to launch the drive, which began near Tata Pigment Limited’s gate on Jugsalai-Tatanagar Station Road from Friday. Till 3pm, nearly 65 vehicles — mostly two-wheelers — were fined.

According to Lakra, police often failed to note down registration number of a vehicle involved in a crime because of fancy fonts on number plates or just a fancy number plate. Hence, the crackdown.

DSP (traffic) R.M. Sinha said the drive would continue till Durga Puja in five traffic police stations areas — Jugsalai, Bistupur, Sakchi, Mango and Golmuri.

“The measure has been taken keeping in mind rising incidents of snatching. We are strictly conforming to guidelines laid out in the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. First-time offenders are being slapped a fined of Rs 500 under Section 179 of the act, while in case of repeat offenders, the penalty amount is double. We plan to prepare a database of challans issued to violators,” he added.

In the first such crackdown on number plate offenders in the district, police on Friday saw whether the registration letters were in black against a white background for cars and two-wheelers, and black against yellow for commercial vehicles. Vehicles were also checked for proper number plate display in front and on the rear.

“More than 60 per cent motorists and bikers in the city violate the norms. Youngsters flaunt fancy fonts or catchy phrases. Sometimes, the registration number is not even legible. Such number plates are illegal and will invite penalty,” Sinha said.

The traffic department is also ready to help those who are ignorant about the rules.

“Any person can contact our officers at the five traffic police stations any time of the day and seek information on the Central Motor Vehicles Act. People can also directly approach the traffic monitor on road. Collecting fine is not our sole objective,” said a department official.