Growing numbers of rogue drivers avoid routine justice by using 'ghost' records that police cameras cannot read, the ministers were told last night.
It is estimated that about 1 in 15 British plates can be changed in one way or another, although the scale of abuse is still calculated.
Criminals who use the misleading plates – which can only be purchased for £ 30 – only have a fine of £ 100 to do despite its use to prevent punishment for other violations such as running red lights or other engine violations. This is a lighter fine than for someone who caught speed.
But a Labor Member of Parliament has urged the ministers to operate the system by imposing heavier measures on perpetrators.
Sarah Coombes, who represents West Bromwich, recorded a ten -minute bill that could increase the fine to £ 1000 and at least six penalty points on Dodgy drivers can force. Other measures include Vehicle Curser or disqualification of the driver as a potential obstacle.
She said to MPs yesterday: '
'They are used on our roads, by people who want to row freely, let red lights run and do much worse.
'It is illegal to use these plates, but the current consequences of being caught with one are far too insignificant. The drivers that use ghost plates have gone under the radar for too long, but now they have been messing around and it is time to fight them. '
'Ghost' plates are modified number plates that police cameras cannot read, the ministers were told last night (file image)
It is estimated that approximately 1 in 15 British plates can be changed in one way or another (file image)
The plates cannot be picked up by ANPR cameras, which means that drivers can escape from speeding violations (file image)
Sarah Coombes (photo), who represents West Bromwich, recorded a ten -minute bill that could increase the fine to £ 1000 and at least six penal points on Dodgy drivers can force
Plates are adjusted with reflective sprays, transparent films or small changes in the characters to blind police cameras. They can be identified by special cameras currently being tested by some councils or if officers accurately inspect them after the perpetrator has stopped.
Labor MP Paul Waugh, who was the co-sponsor bill, that the plates “are used by drug dealers, hit-and-run drivers, terrorists and other criminals to hide their identity from the police.”
A police exercise in London showed that 40 percent of taxi and private hire vehicles had applied coatings to their plates that made them unreadable for automatic license plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
There have also been cases where the use of false number plates that criminals can travel under the radar, which makes it possible to facilitate organized crime and terrorism.
Tony Porter, the former supervisory director of the former UK security camera, said: “Anpr and the modest license plate is hot-bired in the road safety of the UK. If people think, by their records, they can speed up, drive without care or without insurance to avoid prosecution – then we must remove this temptation. Innocent members of the public are endangered. '
Concern about ghost plates teased the previous conservative government. Former biometric and surveillance camera commissioner Professor Fraser Sampson raised his concern about the issue in a letter of resignation of 2023 to Mark Harper, then the transport secretary and said that criminals were increasingly used to play the system.
Stealth plates can be obtained freely on the internet. The Stealthplate website, where records are available for only £ 45, instructs drivers to not use their products on public roads.
The bill of Mrs. Coombes will be presented to MPs again on 7 March. If it has received the support of the government, this can end as the law.
