Drivers could soon face tougher punishments for breaking laws around number plates, as part of plans to crack down on infringements that allow motorists to evade speed and ANPR cameras. This enables them to break road rules like speeding, running red lights, and committing dangerous overtakes without being caught.
More seriously, it allows criminal groups to move around undetected by police ANPR cameras. Reckless motorists are adapting number plates or fitting false or cloned ones, known as ghost plates, which cannot be detected. This issue has grown over recent years, with the true number of cars displaying illegal plates thought to be huge.
MPs and campaigners say a much tougher deterrent is needed. Displaying illegal plates means speed and ANPR cameras cannot link them to the vehicle. Worse still, if a car wears false plates, speeding tickets and prosecutions are sent to innocent owners to whom they are registered. This creates an uneven playing field, as these motorists do not abide by speed limits while law-abiding people do.
Government Consultation
A government consultation on tougher laws and penalties has now closed, with ministers considering options. It has been suggested that harsher penalties could include fines up to £1,000 and penalty points on licences.
Strict Rules for Number Plates
There are strict rules for how UK car number plates can be displayed: the front plate must show black letters on a white background, the rear plate must show black letters on a yellow background, and plates must not have a background pattern. Characters also need to be a certain size and height.
Imran Malek, motoring expert at DrivingExperience.com, said: "Number plates play a crucial role in vehicle identification on our roads, such as helping with law enforcement. However, there are rising concerns about illegal plates, which hopefully these possible new measures will help tackle. All motorists have an obligation to ensure that their number plate is legal. This includes keeping it clean and adhering to rules set by the DVLA. Stick to the law and you'll have nothing to worry about."
