UK motorway camera trials detect thousands of illegal ‘ghost plates’

New camera technology being tested on UK motorways has detected thousands of illegal ‘ghost plates’ designed to evade Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems. These plates use reflective coatings, modified lettering, or cloned registrations to remain unreadable to standard enforcement cameras.

Testing sites near the Dartford Crossing and the M25 have reported high detection rates, with some locations seeing daily counts rise from 1,000 to nearly 2,000 ghost plates. Data from transport groups suggests that as many as one in 15 vehicles on British roads may carry plates that are unreadable to existing ANPR networks.

In response, the Department for Transport is considering tougher penalties. Proposed measures include granting police the power to seize vehicles fitted with stealth plates immediately. Currently, using an illegal plate is a non-endorsable offence resulting in a £100 fine; the new proposals would make it an endorsable violation carrying three to six penalty points, which could trigger automatic driving bans for new motorists.