Sanctions for Modifying Vehicle License Plates, How Much is the Fine?

Modifying vehicle license plates, whether by changing the font, attaching stickers, or changing the color, can get you in trouble with the authorities. Violators face a maximum imprisonment of two months or a fine of up to Rp500,000 based on Article 280 of Law No. 22 of 2009.

License plates or Vehicle Registration Number Signs (TNKB) are the official identity of vehicles issued by the police. Therefore, their shape, color, and writing are strictly regulated. In this article, you will learn about the legal regulations, types of modifications that are prohibited, the amount of sanctions, and additional risks that now lurk through electronic ticketing cameras (ETLE).

License Plate Regulations According to Traffic Law

License plates must be installed and meet standards. In Law No. 22 of 2009 concerning Traffic and Road Transportation (LLAJ), it is stated that vehicle license plates are prohibited from being modified by changing the color, shape, writing, or other attachments such as stickers.

The basis for this obligation is in Article 68 paragraph (1). This article states that every motor vehicle operated on the road must be equipped with a vehicle registration certificate (STNK) and a TNKB. The TNKB contains the regional code, registration number, and validity period, and must meet the requirements for shape, size, material, color, and installation method.

The technical provisions are further regulated in Police Regulation (Perpol) No. 7 of 2021 concerning the Registration and Identification of Motor Vehicles. This Perpol replaces Police Regulation No. 5 of 2012.

Official License Plate Specifications According to Perpol 7/2021

To avoid getting caught in modifications, you need to know what a valid license plate looks like. Article 45 paragraph (1) of Perpol 7/2021 establishes four basic colors for TNKB:

TNKB Color	Usage
White background, black writing	Private vehicles, legal entities, foreign representatives, and international organizations
Yellow background, black writing	Public vehicles
Red background, white writing	Government service vehicles
Green background, black writing	Vehicles in certain areas, such as free trade zones

For electric vehicles, the base color follows the type of vehicle, but there is an additional blue line on the license plate according to Article 45 paragraph (2).

It should be noted that changing the base plate from black to white is an official policy of the police, not a modification. According to the National Police Traffic Corps, this change is made to enhance the effectiveness of ETLE.

In addition to color, license plates also contain regional codes. You can understand this through the article list of vehicle license plate codes in Indonesia.

Forms of Prohibited License Plate Modifications

In general, license plate modifications are any changes that make the TNKB different from the official specifications or difficult to read, including by ETLE cameras. Common examples include:

Changing letters or numbers, for example using artistic fonts or connecting and separating characters.
Changing the base color or writing, including repainting the plate.
Adding stickers or paint to the surface of the plate.
Using acrylic, reflective stickers, or glow-in-the-dark materials that make the numbers difficult to read by cameras.
Covering part of the plate, folding, or removing the front or rear plates.
Installing plates that do not meet standards, for example, too tilted or covered by accessories.

Plates not issued by the police are also invalid. According to hukumonline, official TNKB is only issued by the police, so "fake" plates are not valid and can be subject to sanctions.

Sanctions and Fines for License Plate Modifications

The maximum fine for modified license plates is Rp500,000 or imprisonment for up to two months. This sanction refers to Article 280 of Law No. 22 of 2009, which states that anyone driving a motor vehicle on the road without a TNKB established by the police according to Article 68 paragraph (1) may be punished. Modified plates are no longer considered legally established TNKB, so enforcement uses the same article.

Violation	Legal Basis	Maximum Sanction
Modified, fake, or improperly installed license plates	Article 280 juncto Article 68 paragraph (1)	2 months imprisonment or a fine of Rp500,000
Vehicles not meeting technical requirements and roadworthy	Article 285 juncto Article 48	1 month imprisonment or a fine of Rp250,000 for motorcycles; 2 months or Rp500,000 for four-wheeled vehicles or more

The figures above are the maximum limits. The final amount of the fine is determined by the judge if the case is brought to trial. To understand the articles and fines for other violations, also read traffic violations: definitions, types, articles, and fines.

Conclusion