Drivers' Chamber issues warning on APP license plates: Critical details explained

As debates over APP license plates have caused panic among vehicle owners, a notable statement has come from the Bursa Drivers and Automobilists Chamber. Chamber President Ahmet Çakır stated that sealed and standard license plates will not be considered 'illegal' and that the high fines being discussed do not reflect the truth.

Stating that recent media reports have caused anxiety among drivers, Çakır explained that an APP plate refers to an 'illegal plate.' Çakır noted that license plates printed at drivers' chambers that bear an official seal do not fall under this scope, saying, "Plates that have a seal and a QR code in the new system are not APP plates. There will be no issues in traffic with these plates."

'THE SURGE IS UNNECESSARY'

Expressing that the surge in demand for plate replacement is unnecessary, Çakır reminded that many drivers' chambers across Turkey are authorized to print license plates. Çakır said that the molds used in different provinces might show minor differences due to the craftsmen, but this does not mean they are non-standard. Stating that only certain districts are represented in the Bursa city center, Çakır noted that there are also plate printing points in districts such as Mudanya, Gemlik, Orhangazi, İnegöl, Yenişehir, and İznik. He emphasized that the plates printed in these chambers carry the same standards.

THE 4 THOUSAND LIRA DETAIL

Stating that a fine could be applied if there is a deformation affecting the seal or QR code on the plates, Çakır said that the high fine figures being discussed by the public are not accurate. He stated that the fine that could be applied in such cases would be around 4 thousand liras.

Reminding that license plate standards are determined by the federation across Turkey, Çakır noted that the plate metal and paint used are also sent from the same center. He said that the plates also contain various security elements such as holograms, security lines, and the Turkish flag. Stating that some drivers change the blue 'TR' section on the left side of the plate with a red sticker, Çakır emphasized that this is not a correct practice.

Stating that similar surges are being experienced in many provinces of Turkey, Çakır said that claims of high fines have caused panic among drivers. Çakır reiterated that there is no criminal action for sealed and standard license plates.