Ghost plates

[mike1864]

The BBC is reporting the growing use of number plates designed to be invisible to ANPR cameras.
A few years ago I accidentally bought such a set.
I'd wanted to replace the reflective plates that came with my Traveller with a more "correct" silver on black" set.
All was fine, until one day I'd (unusually, versus the drive) parked in the road. Returning at night in our other car, I saw that, illuminated by my headlights, the Traveller's plates looked completely blank.
The supplier agreed to replace them, but I never found out if they'd deliberately made them like that for certain customers.
Maybe check yours if you've replaced them at any time?

[moggiethouable]

I had an acquaintance who was pretty well off.
He purchased an Aston Martin, used but in great shape.
Unbeknown to him it had a speed camera scrambler fitted, the boys in blue, a lady in blue to be exact pulled him over and advised he would be prosecuted.
At great expense the court case was contested.
As there was no on/off switch and my friend denied all knowledge he won the case.
The supplying garage admitted even they did not know it was fitted.
In this rare instance ignorance was accepted.
I think you did the right thing though.

[svenedin]

I have silver on black number plates made by a well known supplier. These are the specially shaped plates that fit in the aperture in the boot lid for all models except Travellers.

They are definitely not ghost plates but I did have a bit of an "incident" in a car park in Bayeux in France. I drove up to the barrier but the system failed to read my number plate and it would not open the barrier. Unfortunately, there were cars behind me and no attendant so everybody had to reverse so that I could get back out. We parked somewhere else!

Stephen

[King Kenny]

The Asda/public car park in Trowbridge has a parking machine that you have to enter your reg. number in. I entered my 1969, G reg into the machine and it said that that number is not recognised. It then asked if I was sure that the number is correct. I answered YES and it provided me with a ticket. I thought it was a lot of faff as the first hour is free anyway. A while before I entered the local Sainsbury's that has APNR. My plates are the 3D silver on black style. The machine failed to recognise them too.

[59Elva]

What is the purpose of reading your plate number? If the machine issues a ticket does it collect the ticket and payment when you leave or charge an account associated with your registration or send you a bill? Some of our parking garages are unattended and don’t except cash. I don’t know how you escape if you don’t have a credit card.
Our toll roads are automated now. An “Easy Pass” transponder notes your entry and exit points and charges the toll to your account. If you don’t have a transponder it reads your plate and mails you a bill with an additional premium fee.

[King Kenny]

59Elva, you have it easy in the US. To park anywhere in the UK involves an exchange of vast amounts of money. The local government or parking firms have the situation pretty much sealed up. You are often identified by a camera as you enter a car park and there is no way of avoiding paying. Failure to do so will result in a heavy fine sent to the car's registered keeper. It is not uncommon to pay around £8.00 per hour for parking in towns and cities over here. Also, registering your plate number makes it impossible for you to give the parking ticket to another driver to use up any unused time. No change given and no refund accepted.

[geoberni]

The Asda/public car park in Trowbridge has a parking machine that you have to enter your reg. number in. I entered my 1969, G reg into the machine and it said that that number is not recognised. It then asked if I was sure that the number is correct. I answered YES and it provided me with a ticket. I thought it was a lot of faff as the first hour is free anyway. A while before I entered the local Sainsbury's that has APNR. My plates are the 3D silver on black style. The machine failed to recognise them too.

Basil's registration is age related plates issued almost 30 years ago.
Some online shopping sites relating to vehicle parts do not recognise it.....yet some do so there is obviously more than one source of the data used.....

[59Elva]

30 years? I thought plates stayed with the car for life over there.

[firedrake1942]

Age related plates are issued if the original has been transferred to another vehicle (Booo!) or the identity of the vehicle lost.

[ManyMinors]

Or cars imported from other countries....

[geoberni]

30 years? I thought plates stayed with the car for life over there.

As a general rule, yes.
However there has evolved, over many decades, a scheme whereby an owner can claim that a registration number is 'cherished' and can, for a fee, transfer it to their next vehicle.
There are a lot of rules around it, the principle one being that the donor vehicle must be roadworthy, not a wreck in the garden.
The scheme is further corrupted by allowing people to sell their 'cherished' plate....

https://www.carreg.co.uk/cherished-numb ... hjmHqpXMi7

[59Elva]

Does the government issue the physical plate or just assign a number and the owner needs to apply the number to the car? I’ve seen pictures where the number appears to be a decal or painted on the bonnet. What happens when the plate is damaged or faded or worn out?

[geoberni]

Just the number allocated on the registration document.
The 'registered keeper' in the official terminology can then get plates made at a registered supplier.

According to press reports....

In the UK, there are more than 34,000 businesses registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to supply number plates.

Anyone can currently become a registered number-plate supplier by filling in a quick form and paying a one-off fee.

Two out of three businesses we approached there offered ghost plates which they said could help avoid cameras policing London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) cameras.

One of them allowed us to buy a plate without asking for either ID or proof that we were allowed to use the registration - both of which are required by law.

The paint on or vinyl sticker type were allowed until the 1970s so are still permitted if the vehicle old enough. Typically sports cars.

[boingy]

The paint on or vinyl sticker type were allowed until the 1970s so are still permitted if the vehicle old enough. Typically sports cars.

And vintage tractors. I bought a black and silver embossed plate for our old Fergie but somehow it looks much better with the hand painted reg on the diff casing!