Motorists driving vehicles without number plates or fitted with bar lights and sirens could soon find themselves off the road as a nationwide operation tightens enforcement against vehicles using equipment reserved for emergency services.
The move comes amid growing concern that some drivers are deliberately removing registration plates or installing flashing lights to avoid identification or gain right of way in traffic.
The exercise targets vehicles moving without number plates as well as those fitted with bar lights, blue lights, sirens and beacons, gadgets typically reserved for ambulances, police vehicles and other emergency responders.
According to Commissioner Paul Nyathi, Chief Staff Officer for Press and Public Relations at the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the trend has increasingly been linked to criminal and traffic offences.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern that some motorists are deliberately removing number plates to evade identification after committing offences such as armed robberies, kidnapping and hit-and-run road traffic accidents,” Nyathi said.
The issue has also been observed among some public service vehicles, which have been operating without plates in order to avoid follow-ups on traffic violations.
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Illegal bar lights and sirens have also become more visible on ordinary vehicles, creating confusion on the roads as some drivers attempt to mimic emergency vehicles to move faster through traffic.
“Some vehicles are being fitted with illegal sirens, blue lights and bar lights which are reserved for authorised emergency vehicles. This causes chaos on the roads,” Nyathi said.
Beyond traffic disruption, the flashing lights have also been cited as a safety concern at night.
“The use of bar lights has also been noted to disturb the vision of other motorists at night, thereby endangering road users,” he said.
Vehicles caught operating without number plates risk being impounded until proper registration plates are installed, while illegal lights and sirens are being removed during enforcement operations.
“All illegal sirens, blue lights, bar lights, beacons and related gadgets will be removed on the spot with no excuses being entertained,” Nyathi said.
Motorists have also been urged to disregard a document circulating on social media about the operation, which officials say was leaked after a commanders’ meeting.
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