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On Friday was the deadline for Serbian residents in northern Kosovo to replace their car plates issued by Serbia with plates from the Republic of Kosovo.
The police stated that out of approximately 10,000 estimated cars in northern Kosovo, around 4,200 have new plates, while many others have registered their cars in Serbia and are allowed to use them in Kosovo, just like plates from any other foreign country.
Deputy Police Commander in North Mitrovica, Veton Elshani, said that in the next two days, the police will only warn drivers who have not converted their car plates, and starting from next week, they will be fined or even have their vehicles confiscated.
"It practically means that a police officer can warn, issue a fine, or confiscate the vehicle. It depends on the situation," Mr. Elshani said to VOA.
Authorities had postponed the registration deadline several times to give more time to citizens in northern Kosovo, who, since the post-war period, have used plates issued by Serbian authorities with the names of Kosovo cities.
Branislav Kerstic from North Mitrovica says that Serbs were left on their own by Belgrade and were forced to register their cars.
"They were forced either to re-register their vehicles with RKS plates or to go through the re-registration process in Serbian cities. Unfortunately, this is a consequence of our current situation, and no vehicle with KM plates is left," Mr. Kerstic said.
The issue of plates was one of the key issues that led to tensions between Kosovo and Serbia last year.
In November of last year, the Kosovo government began the gradual implementation of the decision to convert plates issued by Serbia, despite calls from the United States and the European Union to extend the deadline.
Serb employees withdrew from all local institutions on November 4, and since then, the north of Kosovo has experienced several high tensions.
Western diplomats have been trying to expedite the normalization process of relations between Kosovo and Serbia amid concerns about stability in the region, especially after the events of September 24 in northern Kosovo. While Pristina is asked to establish the Association of Municipalities with a Serbian majority, Belgrade is asked to fulfill obligations leading towards de facto recognition of Kosovo.