Ghost Plates: The £30 Trick That Lets Criminals Evade the Law!

The cheap trick that’s letting criminals vanish from UK roads—and why law-abiding drivers are paying the price

The UK’s roads are under constant surveillance, with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras tracking vehicles for everything from speeding to ULEZ compliance. But what if I told you that for as little as £30, drivers can make their number plates invisible to these cameras? Enter ghost plates – a trick that’s becoming alarmingly common and is now in the crosshairs of MPs and law enforcement.

How Do Ghost Plates Work?

Ghost plates exploit the vulnerabilities of ANPR cameras using simple but effective modifications, such as:

• Reflective Sprays – These bounce light back at the camera, causing overexposure and rendering the plate unreadable.
• Stealth Covers – Transparent films that distort the plate under infrared or flash photography.
• Physical Alterations – Tweaks like strategically placed screw heads or altered characters that trick the system (turning a ‘B’ into an ‘8’, for example).

For something that costs less than a night out, criminals and dodgy drivers can vanish from ANPR systems, dodging fines, penalties, and even law enforcement.

How Big Is This Problem?

If you thought this was just a handful of dodgy drivers getting away with it, think again. Estimates suggest that 1 in 15 vehicles on UK roads have some form of number plate modification. That’s millions of cars effectively slipping past enforcement unnoticed.

And it gets worse – a police operation in London found that 40% of taxi and private hire vehicles had coatings applied to make their plates unreadable. That’s nearly half of these vehicles exploiting the loophole to avoid congestion charges, bus lane fines, and more.

Why Is This So Dangerous?

It’s not just about avoiding ULEZ fees or parking fines – this loophole is a gift to criminals. Think about it:

• Hit-and-run drivers can’t be traced.
• Getaway cars disappear from police databases.
• Uninsured motorists go undetected.
• Stolen vehicles remain untraceable.

Meanwhile, guess who foots the bill for unpaid fines, increased insurance premiums, and the cost of extra enforcement? Law-abiding taxpayers like you.

What’s Being Done About It?

Right now, if you’re caught with a modified number plate, fines can range from £100 to £1,000—but that’s barely a deterrent compared to the savings made from dodging ULEZ, congestion charges, or speeding fines. MPs are now pushing for harsher penalties, including:

• £1,000 fines for anyone caught using ghost plates.
• Six penalty points on their licence.
• Stricter roadside checks and bans on reflective sprays and stealth covers.

The Wider Impact – Speeding & Licence Consequences

While ghost plates allow criminals to evade ANPR detection, regular speeding penalties remain severe:

• Minimum penalty for speeding: £100 fine and 3 penalty points (if you plead guilty).
• You may be offered a speed awareness course instead of the points, but only if:
  • The police deem it appropriate for your offence.
  • You haven’t attended one in the past 3 years.

If you plead not guilty, you must go to court, where fines and penalty points can be increased at the court’s discretion:

• The amount you’re fined depends on the speed limit and how much over it you were driving. Typically, it’s a percentage of your weekly income, up to:
  • £1,000 fine on regular roads.
  • £2,500 fine if speeding on a motorway.
• You could also lose your licence or have it suspended.
• If you passed your driving test within the last 2 years, your licence will be revoked if you accumulate 6 or more penalty points.

Should the Law Go Further?

Even if tougher fines are introduced, will they be enough? Some argue that:

• Reflective sprays should be banned entirely.
• ANPR systems need upgrading to counteract stealth plates.
• Plate manufacturing should be more strictly regulated to prevent easy alterations.

What Do You Think?

Should penalties be tougher? Should stealth plate materials be banned outright? Or do we need a total rethink of number plate security?

Stay alert, stay informed, and drive safe!

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