ALEPPO, Syria — In cooperation with local police and general security agencies, the local council of al-Bab in the Euphrates Shield area in the northeastern Aleppo countryside opened Aug. 19 a department of motor vehicles to register motor vehicles and issue license plates. An affiliated motor vehicle inspection department was also established to ensure all vehicles in al-Bab are registered and conform to road and safety regulations, even vehicles previously registered with the regime.

Lt. Abdul Qader Haj Omar, head of the department of motor vehicles, told Al-Monitor, “This experience is the first of its kind in the Euphrates Shield area. It aims to limit the chaotic spread of unregistered public and private vehicles with no license plates. This department will equally help organize traffic in the city as license plates will make it easier to catch those who violate the traffic law and protect citizens’ private cars and motorcycles. Car theft will decrease as it would be easier for the police to find registered vehicles and pursue thieves.”

He added, “We started with registering and licencing police motor vehicles. We will then move to the local council’s vehicles. We will start registering and licensing civilian vehicles by Sept. 15. The vehicles’ owners will pay a registration fee of 200 Turkish liras [$31] for a two-year registration at the local council's financial office.”

The license plate is renewable every two years once the vehicle passes inspection again.