THODUPUZHA: A recent trend adopted by bike riders to evade AI traffic cameras is being discussed by MVD and Kerala police. Bike riders without helmets use clothes and face masks to cover their vehicle number plates to escape from penalties imposed by AI cameras. The motor vehicle department has formed a special squad to nab such riders. The decision comes after analyzing that almost 10% of people in Kerala are currently adopting this method to escape scrutiny.

Almost 10 people have been hitherto arrested for the crime. Enforcement and MVD combined a special squad that will track down the vehicle by its color and model, only to later zero in on the culprit after learning about the route he traveled.

In Thodupuzha; Vengalloor, Mangatukavala, and Karikode are hotspots where AI cameras found many riders trying to cover number plates with hands, stickers, and face masks. Most of the riders are learned to be college students. Just one month before, a youngster was caught in Thodupuzha for covering his vehicle number plate. An issue that would have ended in just Rs 500 fine is being dragged to the court with an additional fine for this escaping act. For covering the number plate, the fine is Rs 10,000. If repeated again, the MVD has the authority to cancel the rider's license.