Ghost Plates: The Latest Challenge for Speed Cameras
Authorities are facing a new challenge in the battle against speeding motorists – ‘ghost plates’. These special reflective number plates have been designed to evade detection by traditional speed cameras, making the vehicle registration numbers unreadable. Referred to as 3D and 4D plates, these ghost plates are now under scrutiny by law enforcement agencies as they pose a threat to road safety and traffic monitoring systems.
The use of ghost plates has seen a sharp rise in recent times, prompting police forces to equip themselves with advanced cameras capable of identifying these deceptive devices. Professor Fraser Sampson, the former Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, highlighted the simplicity of this evasion tactic, expressing concern over the significant number of motorists exploiting this loophole in the system. In response to this growing concern, local authorities have started deploying upgraded cameras designed to detect these ghost plates effectively.
One such initiative is underway in Wolverhampton, where council officers have been equipped with state-of-the-art technology to crack down on offenders using ghost plates. Councillor Craig Collingswood, responsible for environment and climate change at Wolverhampton City Council, emphasised the importance of these measures in maintaining public safety and the efficiency of traffic management systems. Offenders caught using illegal number plates could face a hefty fine of £100, with additional penalties for taxi drivers licensed by Wolverhampton, including suspension or revocation of their licences.
Professor Sampson’s correspondence with Transport Secretary Mark Harper shed light on various methods employed by motorists to avoid fines, including cloning number plates, using reflective tape, and purchasing stealth plates. Despite advancements in technology, the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system still faces challenges, with an estimated 2.4 million misreads daily. The sheer scale of surveillance, with millions of number plate reads every day, has exposed vulnerabilities in the ANPR system that could potentially be exploited by offenders.
The reliance on physical number plates as the primary means of identification has been identified as a key weakness in the ANPR system. Professor Sampson highlighted the ease with which motorists can obtain tools to thwart the technology, such as reflective tape or stealth plates available from online vendors. With an estimated one in fifteen drivers already using anti-ANPR technology, the prevalence of these evasion tactics is expected to grow as the reliance on ANPR for traffic management increases.
The evolving landscape of traffic enforcement schemes and emission zones has created new challenges for the ANPR system, with motorists facing financial incentives to outsmart the technology. Despite its critical role in policing and traffic management, the ANPR system remains vulnerable to exploitation through simple yet effective evasion tactics. As authorities continue to enhance their surveillance capabilities, motorists are being warned against using illegal methods to avoid detection by speed cameras.
In conclusion, the emergence of ghost plates as a means to make vehicles ‘invisible’ to speed cameras represents a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies. The adoption of advanced detection technologies and intensified monitoring efforts are crucial in combating this deceptive practice and ensuring the integrity of traffic enforcement systems. With the spotlight on these evasion tactics, motorists are urged to comply with road traffic regulations and refrain from engaging in activities that compromise road safety and traffic monitoring mechanisms.