Tongan Police have issued 30 fines for illegible number plates over the weekend as part of a crackdown to deter crimes committed with the help of vehicles, TBC Television service has reported.
Motorists in Tongatapu have been warned to ensure that their vehicle’s registration plates are legal, or face a fine of TP$50.
The Television said Police were enforcing the law about illegal plates.
It said motorists with plates displaying numbers and letters that have been altered, re-arranged, obscured or are difficult to read, were issued with on-the-spot fines.
Police said there were fancy number plates with different colour backgrounds and letters apparently designed to confuse, or which cannot be easily identified if they were involved in a traffic accident.
Vehicles are allowed to have personalised number plates but they must not be offensive or diminished Police ability to record numbers if they do anything illegal.
Vehicle owners must apply to the Ministry of Transport to have their number plates personalised if needed.
