In Uzbekistan, it is becoming increasingly common to encounter vehicles with concealed or altered license plates. Drivers use dirt, paper, tape, adhesive film, and even numbers from other plates to mask their identities. It’s important to understand that these drivers are potential criminals who plan ahead to evade responsibility. By hiding their license plates, they are preparing to commit violations while avoiding punishment. Even if caught — which is unlikely — they usually get away with a small fine and continue their reckless behavior.

This situation demands urgent legislative changes. If radical measures are not taken, the number of violations will only increase, leading to more accidents, casualties, and chaos on the roads. Society must realize that someone who hides their license plate is not just a cunning driver but a dangerous criminal. Only strict measures and decisive punishment will stop this behavior.

Why is this more than just a minor violation?

Every driver who conceals their license plate does so to avoid fines for breaking the law. These are not accidental mistakes; they are deliberate actions by people planning to violate traffic rules — speeding, running red lights, ignoring signs and road markings. This is not just a minor offense but preparation for a potential crime.

Let’s not be naive: by hiding their license plates, such drivers are fully aware that their actions could lead to tragedy. Speeding and ignoring traffic lights are among the leading causes of severe accidents. These drivers might hit a pedestrian, crash into another vehicle, or endanger the lives of other road users. Concealing license plates is essentially preparing for a crime, making these individuals potential killers.

Why is the punishment so lenient?

Recently, Russia introduced a penalty of 1.5 years of license suspension for drivers who hide their plates. But in Uzbekistan, the punishment is limited to fines. Depending on the audacity of the violation, fines range from 3 to 10 basic calculation units (BCU):

• 3 to 5 BCU (from 1.1 to 1.8 million UZS): for attempting to conceal a license plate.
• 5 BCU (1.8 million UZS): for driving without a license plate.
• 10 BCU (3.7 million UZS): for using fake or altered license plates.

Even the maximum penalty of 10 BCU is insufficient for someone intentionally breaking the law and endangering others. This is not just a traffic violation — it’s playing with people’s lives. Every day, pedestrians and drivers hit the road, unaware that they might fall victim to someone’s irresponsibility.

What can be done to eliminate this behavior?

In traffic, as in life, a lack of consequences breeds impunity. As long as penalties for such offenses remain symbolic, the problem will only grow. To put an end to this behavior, radical measures are necessary:

1. Harsher penalties. Introduce long-term license suspensions — from 1 to 2 years. Repeat offenders should be permanently stripped of their driving privileges.
2. Higher fines. Penalties should be so high that it becomes unprofitable for drivers to hide their plates.
3. Vehicle confiscation. In cases of repeat offenses, the vehicle should be confiscated.
4. Increased use of cameras. More traffic cameras should be installed to capture violations, ensuring offenders are held accountable, even with altered or hidden plates.

Everyone deserves to feel safe on the road. But as long as drivers conceal their plates and break the rules, safety will remain under threat. It’s time for our officials to realize that the punishment must correspond to the risk created by the offender. If you hide your plates to speed and run red lights, you should be prepared to lose your license or even your vehicle. The time has come for stricter measures.

The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.