Man jailed for tampering number plate to evade AI traffic cameras

A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced a motorcyclist to one month's imprisonment and fined him Tk 2,000 for covering part of his motorcycle's number plate in an attempt to evade detection by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) AI-powered traffic surveillance system.

The convict, Md Lablu Haque, 38, was arrested by a team from the DMP's City Intelligence Analysis Division and later produced before a Special Magistrate Court, which handed down the sentence.

Addressing a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre, Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman said Lablu had covered three digits of his motorcycle's number plate with white scotch tape while riding through the capital on May 19.

The incident drew widespread attention after a video and photographs showing the altered number plate in the Karwan Bazar area went viral on social media and were published by several news outlets. The matter came to the attention of the DMP on May 21, prompting an investigation.

According to Anisur Rahman, the Traffic Division launched a priority investigation with assistance from the DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit. Investigators analysed CCTV footage from different parts of the city and matched the motorcycle type and partially concealed registration number to identify the rider.

Following the investigation, Lablu, a resident of Lalbagh, was arrested on Monday.

The DMP official said the case demonstrated the effectiveness of technology-based traffic monitoring systems now being used across the capital. He noted that AI-powered cameras are playing an important role in identifying traffic violations and helping authorities enforce road discipline.

Anisur Rahman also praised city residents for their cooperation in improving traffic discipline, saying positive changes were already visible on Dhaka's roads. He noted that even during the Eid holidays, when traffic volume was comparatively low, many motorists voluntarily complied with traffic regulations.

"We want to establish an automated and disciplined traffic system like those in developed countries. But if anyone attempts to deceive the technology, legal action will be taken against them," he said.

Urging motorists to follow traffic laws, he warned against using unlawful methods to avoid detection by the AI-based traffic monitoring system, saying authorities would continue to take strict action against offenders.