‘Mind Your Own Business’ Backfires: Traffic Officer Detains SMC PSI’s Car Over Missing Number Plate

What began as a routine morning walk for a senior Ahmedabad Traffic Police officer ended with a State Monitoring Cell (SMC) Police Sub-Inspector's vehicle being detained and a simple question about a missing number plate turning into an unexpected lesson in traffic rules.

The incident took place a couple of days ago on Sindhu Bhavan Road, where the senior traffic police officer was out for his morning walk in plain clothes.

During the walk, the officer noticed a four-wheeler parked by the roadside. The vehicle had a police tag displayed on its window, but there was one rather noticeable problem, the front number plate was missing.

Four persons were sitting near the vehicle.

The officer, who had not identified himself at the time, casually asked them whose vehicle it was.

Instead of an answer, he was reportedly told to move on.

Undeterred, the officer asked another question: Why was there no number plate on the front of the vehicle?

The reply, according to sources, was even more direct. “Mind your own business.”

Unfortunately for the person giving the advice, the man asking the question was a senior traffic police officer even though he was dressed in civilian clothes.

The wrong man to tell to mind his business

The officer then produced his official identity card and reportedly explained why the missing number plate was very much his business.

But the explanation offered by those present was that the owner of the vehicle had gone somewhere and would be informed about the issue.

As the answers failed to satisfy him, the officer decided to do what traffic police officers do best, check the registration details.

Using the number displayed on the rear plate, he obtained the details of the vehicle’s registered owner and called the number associated with it.

The phone rang. Nobody answered.

According to sources, the situation became even more interesting when one of the persons sitting near the vehicle allegedly took out his mobile phone and put it on silent mode, an act reportedly noticed by the officer.

By then, the missing number plate was no longer the only thing attracting attention.

From ‘move ahead’ to ‘Sir, I am a PSI’

The senior officer subsequently contacted the local traffic police inspector and personnel from the jurisdiction. A team reached the spot and began the process of detaining the vehicle.

It was at this point, sources said, that one of the persons sitting near the car approached the officer with an important piece of information that had apparently not been considered necessary earlier.

He identified himself as a Police Sub-Inspector attached to the State Monitoring Cell and stated that the vehicle belonged to him.

However, by then, the matter had already moved beyond introductions.

The traffic police proceeded with the action and detained the vehicle for allegedly not displaying the mandatory front registration number plate.

The incident has since become a talking point within police circles, with the episode serving as an unusual reminder that sometimes telling a stranger to “mind his own business” can prove costly especially when that stranger's business happens to be enforcing traffic laws.

Senior officials said the matter was dealt with in accordance with traffic regulations, adding that the rules regarding vehicle registration plates apply to everyone.