Transport dept to launch crackdown on pvt vehicles unauthorisedly using govt insignia

BENGALURU: Boorish behaviour by some drivers of vehicles with the government insignia pasted on them is not uncommon in the city. There has been an increase in unauthorised use of government logo on private vehicles and some people behave like VIPs by sticking government logo/signs on their vehicles.

As per rules, only central and state government vehicles are allowed to use the name, emblem and logo of the respective government.

In Bengaluru, it is seen that several vehicles of government-affiliated and private organisations, and also individuals have been unauthorisedly using the government logo and symbols on their vehicles. Hundreds of such cases have already been registered in this regard in the transport department.

To crackdown on such misuse, the state Transport Department has set up special investigation teams to clear such registration number plates and plans to crackdown on private vehicles. The department will start the special drive from June.

Mallikarjun, Additional Transport Commissioner, said pointed out that as per rules of the Transport Department, only government vehicles with the G series of registration plates can use the name and logo of the Karnataka government. Except these, vehicles belonging to government affiliated departments, including corporations, boards, local bodies and municipal corporations cannot use the government logo or insignia. For instance, KSRTC cannot use the name and logo of the government, even though it is a state-owned corporation.

The Transport Department has warned that action will be taken against vehicles that use the government logo unauthorisedly under the Motor Vehicles Act, and cases will be registered against them.