Well, here’s a new curve ball, and with a regulation item at that. Authorities have continued their enforcement on non-regulation licence plates, you know, the ones with fancy fonts or lettering smaller than that defined by law, as part of its broader action on traffic-related offences, and that’s a good thing.
However, some things do slip through on what’s permissible, especially if it’s purely based on visually gauging known size requirements, as a recent incident regarding a regulation JPJePlate shows. In a Facebook post, an EV user said he got a summons for his car displaying a “fancy/license plate not to specifications because the lettering is too small.”
That the fonts on the JPJePlate, which the motorist said was an original issue item, were actually smaller than the standard size had everything to do with it. When it was launched in September 2024, the JPJePlate, which is made of aluminium and features embossed black lettering on a white background, only had provisions for a normal-size font capable of handling up to eight characters, and that’s what most people usually see and are familiar with.
However, in October, Handal Ceria, the plate supplier, revealed that a new small-font version of the 52 x 11 cm sized JPJePlate – which remains for use on EVs only at present – able to hold up to 13 characters (letters + numbers) had also been approved for use. The smaller font is meant for number plates nine to 13 characters long, making provisions for special series plates such as XXVIASEAN, PUTRAJAYA and MALAYSIA.
Strangely enough, the vehicle registration in this case had eight alphabets/letters, but in an “XXX XXXX X” sequence, with the stamper likely making provisions for the necessary spacing by utilising the small font. In any case, the plate was recorded as an offence. Following the saman, the motorist proceeded to head down to the police station to have the ticket cancelled, only to be told it couldn’t, with the only option to have it cleared being to take it to court.
Could the particular reg have been done with the normal-sized font? Possibly, but that’s conjecture, not knowing what the tolerances and stamping process entails.
What is known is that the small-font is permissible for use and follows the necessary requirements, and given that, there shouldn’t be a summons if a plate is regulation issue and conforms to an outlined scope. We reached out to Handal Ceria, and was told that the matter has been escalated to the road transport department (JPJ).
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Tulah bodo enforcer… should get a warning letter for inconveniencing the public.
probably the enforcer barely made it past SPM but then they are given jobs in law enforcement agency such as jpj and prdm. so thats the quality of tehir officers
All issues start with funny funny plate. Malaysia la, gold la, platinum la..want to make quick buck but never think of the consequences of going against the established rules.
The power of I am the law all others obey my uniform.
sigh! un-toni lock must resign
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small issue, JPJ can learn from the lesson, take action, compensate if needed.
Anthony, according to your article here, it seems that if the EV’s registration number has 8 characters or less, the JPJePlate with normal size fonts should be used in order to be legal, but not so if the JPJePlate with small fonts is used, because the small fonts are only meant for registration numbers that are 9 to 13 characters long. So, let’s wait for JPJ’s feedback to Handal Ceria.
I would like to share an old issue years ago when I bought a PERODUA number plate which was approved by JPJ. PDRM issued a saman during a roadblock check and when I clarified that the plate was issued with the car, they boldly told me, ‘betul, JPJ approve tapi Polis tak approve’. They even told me to go to court to challenge the saman. I escalated this issue to PERODUA’s HQ and they got it cancelled by Bukit Aman eventually. Conclusion is, buying an approved number plate can still be subjected to a saman, betul?
that’s why enforcement mistake, someone else has to pay while the culprit walkfree. Malaysia should allow public to claim inconvenience cost from the government agencies that make mistakes.
I have actually seen fancy EV car plates.. eg. less than 9 characters/numbers, but use small fonts. I suppose authorities will only summon those car plates with less than 9 characters/numbers, but use small fonts.
dungu enforcer. but looking at the owner’s plate, still got so many blank space, why auto shrink the numbers lol
This is absolute stupidity. EV plate cannot simply be made like the black and white plate. Whoever enforcement staff thinks it is against the law actually saying JPJ yang salah, boss JPJ jugak salah sebab ada staff kurang akal
only happened in stupid land, gap between law enforcer understanding and law maker guideline.
Should do more exercise on motorbikes.
They are everywhere.
kali ini JPJ kelam kabut. Too much play on customised plate number.. ha ha ha..
dah tengok no plate thailand yang masuk malaysia..yg tampal jer tu?…serious kecik..tp takpe..klu nak saman boleh saman rakyat mesia jer…tak gitu?..
jpj saman korang bising. x saman korang bising jugak. ape lagi korang mau?
Font size is more important than EV regulation so that third party can identify the vehicle number. In this case, all EV cars should not use extra characters – stick to standard characters. I believe the court will be wise to stick to public importance rather than personal judgement.
i never understoof people who modify their plates to fancy fonts. i never even look at another car’s plates. They are invisible to me.