DMP warns against AI traffic evasion
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced tougher enforcement measures against motorists attempting to evade the city’s AI-powered traffic monitoring system by concealing or altering vehicle registration plates.
Speaking at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Tuesday, Additional Commissioner Anisur Rahman said a special enforcement drive would soon be launched targeting vehicles with unclear, damaged, distorted or deliberately covered number plates.
He said the use of artificial intelligence has become a key component of traffic law enforcement in the capital, but obscured registration plates hinder the system’s ability to accurately identify offending vehicles. Under the upcoming crackdown, legal action will be taken not only against drivers but also vehicle owners involved in such violations, he said. In addition to fines prescribed by law, drivers will also face penalties under the demerit point system.
The warning follows the circulation of a social media video showing a motorcyclist covering the final three digits of his registration number while travelling on a city road. Following an investigation, police identified the rider as Md Lablu Haque, 38. According to police, he was operating a privately owned motorcycle bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-L-16-3659 while concealing the last three digits, “659”, with white adhesive tape.
A team from the City Intelligence Analysis Division arrested him on Tuesday and later produced him before a court.
He was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment and fined Tk 2,000 under Section 72 of the Road Transport Act 2018.
Describing the act as an unacceptable attempt to deceive AI-based enforcement technology, Anisur Rahman said authorities would continue taking firm action against deliberate violations.
He added that the primary objective of the initiative was to encourage voluntary compliance with traffic laws through greater public awareness, although strict legal measures would be taken against those who intentionally break the law.
Senior police officials and journalists from various print and electronic media organisations attended the briefing.
