Chennai’s roads are increasingly witnessing two-wheelers, cars and even autos zipping around without the most basic identifier: a number plate.

In some cases, political party names or symbols are painted on the vehicles. Many riders, especially youngsters, on such vehicles are flouting the rules by driving on the wrong side of the road and entering one way streets and roads in the wrong direction.

Commuters on Vandalur Road, T. Nagar, Nungambakkam, Anna Nagar, and Mogappiar, with whom The Hindu spoke, said that vehicle checks are infrequent and that traffic police do not monitor violations daily.

“Traffic Police should take strict action against such violations. Routine checks should be conducted not only during peak hours but throughout the day and night. If someone commits a crime and escapes in a vehicle without a proper registration number, how can the Crime Branch or investigating officers trace that vehicle?” asked Sudarshan, who commutes through Vandalur regularly.

A traffic police officer in T. Nagar said police regularly check vehicles and fine those found without proper registration numbers. However, when caught, motorists often offer excuses that the vehicle is new and that they will get the registration number affixed soon. Some claim that the vehicle was old and that they were taking it to fix the number plates. “Most of them are college students and young boys,” he said.

Another traffic police officer pointed out that such vehicles often manage to evade checks during peak hours and late evenings when traffic is heavy. Deploying more police personnel at crucial locations could help curb the practice, he suggested.

A senior official of the City Traffic police said that complaints received through social media of overspeeding, executing stunts, unauthorised parking of vehicles, and driving vehicles without number plates are fined regularly.

“Already in several places, based on complaints about wrong-side driving, teams of traffic enforcement officials conducted surprise road checks at several important junctions across the city and penalised nearly two lakh violators in the first week of September,” the police officer said.