Experts have issued a stark warning about a growing trend among motorists in the UK who use illegal “ghost plates” and other deceptive tactics to evade detection by speed cameras and traffic enforcement systems. These activities, believed to involve one in 15 drivers, threaten public safety and undermine the efficiency of traffic management.
“Ghost plates”, also referred to as 3D or 4D number plates, incorporate reflective materials and specialized designs to make vehicle registrations nearly invisible to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems. These plates, combined with other tricks such as reflective tape and stealth plate purchases from online vendors, are allowing drivers to avoid penalties for speeding and charges in low-emission zones.
Wolverhampton City Council has emerged as a pioneer in combating this issue by investing in cutting-edge technology capable of detecting these illegal plates. The council’s enforcement officers now use advanced cameras specifically designed to identify vehicles with altered or deceptive number plates. Wolverhampton Councillor Craig Collingswood, responsible for environment and climate change, emphasized the city’s commitment to tackling the problem:
“Wolverhampton is leading the way as the first council investing in this state-of-the-art technology to deter and detect offenders.”
Motorists caught using illegal plates face a £100 penalty, and licensed taxi drivers in Wolverhampton risk suspension or revocation of their licences. These measures underscore the seriousness of the issue, as rogue drivers continue to exploit weaknesses in the system.
Professor Fraser Sampson, a former Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, has voiced significant concerns about the vulnerabilities in the ANPR system. Describing the issue as “staggeringly simple”, he noted that the system’s reliance on physical licence plates makes it inherently susceptible to manipulation. In a resignation letter to former Transport Secretary Mark Harper, Professor Sampson highlighted the unregulated market for number plates as a major contributing factor.
With approximately 15,400 traffic cameras operating across the UK, the ANPR system processes between 75 and 80 million number plate reads daily, with occasional spikes above 80 million. Despite a 97% accuracy rate, this still results in 2.4 million misreads each day. These figures are projected to increase to 100 million reads daily by the end of the year.
While these systems are critical for public safety and transport efficiency, the growing prevalence of illegal practices raises questions about their robustness. Professor Sampson stressed the importance of bus lanes for public transport and speed cameras for maintaining safety, but he warned that without stronger regulations, the effectiveness of these systems could be undermined.
Wolverhampton’s efforts to address this issue may pave the way for broader national measures to curb the misuse of ANPR technology and ensure roads remain safe for all.
