Vehicle registration plates of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Encyclopedia
Bosnia and Herzegovina vehicle registration plates have held their current form since 1998. Currently the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) vehicle registration
consists of seven characters: five numbers and two letter arranged in the following order X00 - X - 000. The plates are uniform across the country and do not denote the place (town, municipality, canton, or entity) where the vehicle is registered, as was the case prior to 1998. Likewise the plates also do not contain any heraldic symbols. The plates use only letters which have the same pronunciation in Latin and Cyrillic script (A, E, O, J, K, M, T).
, Carlos Westendorp
. In a report from the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
prior to the decision, it had been noted that police conduct around the Inter-Entity Boundary Line
separating the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina
, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
and Republika Srpska
, had been the "greatest obstacle to freedom of movement", including intimidation and arbitrary fines.
Elsewhere it has been noted that vehicles which bore licence plates
from one entity would be subject to vandalism
in the other entity. The development of licence plates which would not serve as proxy identifiers of driver ethnicity was a partial solution to these problems. However, Bosnian towns typically contain all three constitutional ethnicities (Bosniaks
, Croats
and Serbs
) making ethnic identity unclear regardless of the vehicle's origin. The post-1998 system of obscuring the region is also complicated by the fact that drivers of cars, lorries and buses proud of their ethnicity will advertise this phenomenon with all the matching insignia. For example: Croats and Serbs may drive with crosses hanging from their mirrors; besides the fact that Catholic and Orthodox crosses vary in design, they may also have by the cross - or elsewhere visible - their national flags. In addition, Croats and Serbs in areas where they form a majority do not display the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina or any national Bosnian symbols, making it clear that where Bosnian national markers are shown - whether attached to the registration plate, the back of the car or the interior - the driver/family is Bosniak.
Vehicle registration
Vehicle registration is the compulsory registration of a vehicle with a government authority. Vehicle registration's purpose is to establish clear ownership and to tax motorists or vehicle owners....
consists of seven characters: five numbers and two letter arranged in the following order X00 - X - 000. The plates are uniform across the country and do not denote the place (town, municipality, canton, or entity) where the vehicle is registered, as was the case prior to 1998. Likewise the plates also do not contain any heraldic symbols. The plates use only letters which have the same pronunciation in Latin and Cyrillic script (A, E, O, J, K, M, T).
History
The revised registration plates were introduced as an initiative of the International High Representative for Bosnia and HerzegovinaHigh Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was created in 1995 immediately after the Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee the civilian implementation of this agreement. The High Representative and the OHR represent the...
, Carlos Westendorp
Carlos Westendorp
Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza is a Spanish diplomat.He joined the Spanish Diplomatic Service in 1966.Following several assignments abroad and in Spain Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza (born 7 January 1937 in Madrid) is a Spanish diplomat.He joined the Spanish Diplomatic Service in 1966.Following several...
. In a report from the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was created in 1995 immediately after the Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee the civilian implementation of this agreement. The High Representative and the OHR represent the...
prior to the decision, it had been noted that police conduct around the Inter-Entity Boundary Line
Inter-Entity Boundary Line
The Inter-Entity Boundary Line divides Bosnia and Herzegovina into two entities, the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
separating the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the two political entities that compose the sovereign country of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The two entities are delineated by the Inter-Entity Boundary Line...
and Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, had been the "greatest obstacle to freedom of movement", including intimidation and arbitrary fines.
Elsewhere it has been noted that vehicles which bore licence plates
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...
from one entity would be subject to vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
in the other entity. The development of licence plates which would not serve as proxy identifiers of driver ethnicity was a partial solution to these problems. However, Bosnian towns typically contain all three constitutional ethnicities (Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
, Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
and Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
) making ethnic identity unclear regardless of the vehicle's origin. The post-1998 system of obscuring the region is also complicated by the fact that drivers of cars, lorries and buses proud of their ethnicity will advertise this phenomenon with all the matching insignia. For example: Croats and Serbs may drive with crosses hanging from their mirrors; besides the fact that Catholic and Orthodox crosses vary in design, they may also have by the cross - or elsewhere visible - their national flags. In addition, Croats and Serbs in areas where they form a majority do not display the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina or any national Bosnian symbols, making it clear that where Bosnian national markers are shown - whether attached to the registration plate, the back of the car or the interior - the driver/family is Bosniak.
BiH city auto plates code - Prior to 1992.
| Sarajevo, SA | Prijedor, PD | Banja Luka, BL | Tuzla, TZ | Mostar, MO | Brčko, BČ | Bijeljina, BN |
| Mrkonjić Grad, MG | Travnik, TR | Zenica, ZE | Bihać, BI | Doboj, DO | Visoko, VI | Jajce, JC |
| Livno, LI | Trebinje, TB | Čapljina, ČP | Konjic, KNJ | Goražde, GŽ | Zvornik, ZV | Modriča, MD |
BiH city auto plates code - Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
On territory controlled by Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1994. were used new license plates. They wore blue strip on the left side with script "BIH" and coat of arms above the script. On the white background form was XX-nnnnLL, where "XX" was sign of the town, "nnnn" were digits, and "LL" two letters, where the first letter denoted the municipality where it was issued. Towns are given in following table:| Sarajevo, SA | Prijedor, PD | Tuzla, TZ | Mostar, MO | Brčko, BR | Travnik, TR | Zenica, ZE | Konjic, KO |
| Bihać, BI | Doboj, DO | Visoko, VI | Jajce, JC | Bugojno, BU | Zvornik, ZV | Modriča, MD | Goražde, GO |
BiH city auto plates code - Serb Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
On territory of so-called "Serb Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina", license plates were used similar to those before the war, with difference that instead of red star, the Serb four-S coat of arms was used. Letters on plates were in Cyrillic script.| Sarajevo (Srpsko Sarajevo, Српско Сарајево, СС | Prijedor(Приједор), ПД | Banja Luka (Бања Лука), БЛ | Brčko (Брчко), БЧ | Trebinje (Требиње), ТБ | Mrkonjić Grad (Мркоњић Град), МГ |
| Foča (renamed to Srbinje (Србиње)), СЊ | Doboj (Добој), ДО | Zvornik (Зворник), ЗВ | Modriča (Модрича), МД | Bijeljina (Бијељина), БН | |
BiH city auto plates code - Croat Republic of Herceg-Bosna
On territory of so-called "Croat Republic of Herceg-Bosna", license plates were used similar to those of Republic of Croatia, with difference in the shape of shield in Croat coat of arms ("checkerboard"-"šahovnica").| Mostar, MO | Čapljina, ČA | Posušje, PO | Široki Brijeg, ŠB | Jajce, JA | Tomislavgrad, TG |
| Travnik, TR | Orašje, OR | Kiseljak, KI | Prozor (renamed to Rama), RA | Žepče, ŽE | Livno, LI |
