Motorists using ‘staggering simple’ methods to make number plates look invisible to speed cameras

Drivers are evading detection from speed cameras by using so-called 'ghost plates' that aren't picked up by traditional enforcement tools. Authorities are cracking down on the use of these unique plates that obscure the registration from camera detection, rendering them illegitimate. The illegal 3D and 4D 'ghost plates' reflect light, concealing the plate to skirt detection.

Now, police forces are arming themselves with advanced cameras capable of spotting these deceptive devices. The head of the UK's Automatic Number Plate Recognition system technology expressed concern over the use of 'ghost plates'. According to Professor Fraser Simpson, who called it, 'staggeringly simple' practice, previously wrote a letter to then-Transport Secretary Mark Harper after leaving his role as Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, lamenting the lack of action being taken to curb this issue, reports Wales Online.[1]

READ MORE: Veteran was 'programmed to ignore pain' - it had tragic consequences[2] READ MORE: Blue Badge warning as breaking rules could lead to GBP1,000 fine[3] Local authorities are now being equipped with cameras designed to 'see' these elusive plates.

Wolverhampton is one locality where council officers have been provided these upgraded cameras as part of the intensified efforts. Car owners found using these unlawful number plates can expect to receive a GBP100 penalty. Councillor Craig Collingswood, responsible for environment and climate change at Wolverhampton City Council, spoke to BirminghamLive[4] about the initiative. "Wolverhampton is leading the way as the first council investing in this state-of-the-art technology to deter and detect offenders," he said.

Also known as 3D and 4D plates, police are now equipping themselves with special cameras to detect people flouting the law -Credit:Wales Online

"Bus lanes are essential for the public transport network to operate efficiently and speed cameras help to keep the public safe from speeding vehicles and reduce the likelihood of a crash.

"All motorists can expect to pay a fine if found to be using these illegal methods to avoid cameras and taxi drivers licensed by Wolverhampton may have their licence suspended or revoked." Writing to Mr Harper, Professor Sampson revealed that people are evading fines by cloning number plates, using reflective tape, and purchasing 'stealth plates', allowing them to speed or sneak into low-emission zones undetected.

"All motorists can expect to pay a fine if found to be using these illegal methods to avoid cameras," says Councillor Craig Collingswood -Credit:Getty Images

He added that despite technology being advanced, there is still only a 97% accuracy with number plate recognition - leading to approximately 2.4 million misreadings daily, which could result in faultless drivers being mistakenly ticketed. Professor Sampson said that around 15,400 traffic lanes monitored by cameras create between 75 and 80 million number plate reads daily and sometimes exceeding 80 million, with predictions this could surge to 100 million reads every day by the conclusion of 2024.

Prof Sampson has highlighted a significant flaw in the ANPR system, despite its technological advancements and operational indispensability. "For all its technological advancement and operational indispensability, the ANPR system still relies ultimately on a piece of plastic affixed to either end of a vehicle.

Traffic cameras still only a 97% accuracy, according to Professor Sampson -Credit:Getty Images

"Served by a wholly unregulated market, what my predecessor termed the humble number plate represents a single and readily assailable point of failure with the ANPR network being easily defeated by the manufacture and sale of stealth plates, cloned registration marks and other rudimentary obscurant tactics. "The result is that the ability to frustrate the ANPR system remains staggeringly simple at a time when proper reliance on it for key public services such as policing, law enforcement and traffic management is increasing daily. "Emission zones and other strategic traffic enforcement schemes put motorists in situations where they have to make significant financial choices and it is at least arguable that the incentives for some to 'game' the ANPR systems have never been greater."

"One in 15 drivers may already be using anti-ANPR technology," says Prof Sampson -Credit:MEN Media

Prof Sampson also mentioned how easy it is to obtain means to deceive the technology. "Merely by applying reflective tape to distort part of a registration plate or purchasing stealth plates from online vendors, motorists can confuse and confound current number plate recognition technology and both of these are easily obtainable.

"One recent estimate suggested that one in fifteen drivers may already be using anti-ANPR technology; it is reasonable to expect this conduct to increase as the reliance on ANPR for new traffic management schemes continues."

References

1. ^ reports Wales Online. (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ Veteran was 'programmed to ignore pain' - it had tragic consequences (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Blue Badge warning as breaking rules could lead to GBP1,000 fine (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ spoke to BirminghamLive (www.birminghammail.co.uk)