Fast and fraudulent: Altering licence plates will not help you fool law in Oman

Muscat: Drivers who alter their licence plates in an attempt to evade speed cameras or jump red lights will be caught, an officer of the Royal Oman Police has warned.
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Colonel Abdullah bin Saud Al Farsi, Director of Traffic Operations told Times of Oman that hundreds of offenders were caught last year after trying to obscure their plates to cover actions that threaten the safety of other road users.
“Covering or altering number plates is a serious violation of traffic law and can result in the arrest of wrong car owner,” said the colonel.
As well as traffic offences, some drivers tend to hide their number plates to commit crimes such as robbery or sabotage.
An Omani national, previously convicted for the crime, told the Times of Oman that youngsters commit such acts to pull off dangerous driving stunts.
“I know someone who drove all the way from Shinas to Muscat with hidden number plate and passed tens of speed cameras. He was arrested later by the ROP and sent to the Public Prosecution,” he said.
He knew well the quality of police’s technology. While he was at the police station, the officials showed him an image captured by a speed camera clearly showing his face.
“They think they will not be caught if the number is hidden, but radars in Oman can snap clear images of drivers during night and day time,” he said, adding that violators may get themselves into additional trouble as they will be suspected for committing more crimes such as vandalism and theft.
Around 235 cases of effacing of number plates or improperly adjusting them, were recorded in the Sultanate last year.
This act is categorised as a first degree violation which gets the offender arrested for 48 hours for investigation.
According to the law, if the accused is found guilty, he will get at least three-year sentence and not more than five years in jail.
“The plate must be clearly visible to other motorists,” said Colonel Al Farsi. Manipulating the numbers or changing a car’s specifications, like the year of production or the engine’s number, are also considered a major traffic offence and officials, he said, will not tolerate such acts.