Rajkot Police Bans Fuel Supply to Vehicles Without Valid Number Plates

Rajkot: City Police have issued a 60-day directive barring petrol pumps, CNG stations and diesel stations within the city police commissionerate limits from refuelling vehicles that do not have valid and clearly visible registration number plates.

Under the directive issued by Police Commissioner Brajesh Kumar Jha, fuel stations have been instructed not to supply petrol, diesel or CNG to three-wheelers, four-wheelers and other vehicles if their front or rear number plates are missing or if the registration number is not clearly visible and legally compliant.

The restriction will also cover vehicles with damaged or altered number plates where letters or numbers have become illegible because of wear and tear, mud, paint or other modifications. Vehicles displaying valid High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) or other legally valid and clearly visible registration plates will be exempt.

Fuel station owners and managers have been directed to put up prominent signboards in Gujarati and either Hindi or English near entry and fuel dispensing areas. The boards must inform customers that vehicles without valid number plates will not be refuelled in accordance with the Rajkot Police Commissioner’s order.

The directive also requires fuel stations to properly use CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems. Operators must ensure that cameras capture the front and rear registration plates of vehicles entering and leaving the premises and preserve the footage for at least 30 days.

According to the police, the measure is intended to strengthen traffic enforcement and public safety. Vehicles without identifiable registration numbers can be difficult to trace in cases involving accidents, hit-and-run incidents, theft and other criminal activities.

Fuel station operators have also been instructed to immediately inform the nearest police station or dial 112 if a driver refuses to comply with the directive, creates a disturbance, threatens staff or attempts to use force.

Police have warned that violations of the order may invite legal action under applicable laws, including provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, wherever applicable.

The directive has been circulated among fuel station associations, police officials, government departments and local media organisations for implementation and public awareness. DeshGujarat