In the shadowy realm where technology clashes with cunning (well the UK), a new breed of automotive specter is haunting speed cameras: the “ghost plate.” These aren’t your grandma’s vanity plates; these are high-tech apparitions designed to make vehicles “invisible” to the prying eyes of speed and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras.
Drivers are fitting their cars with “ghost” or “stealth” number plates, which use reflective materials to bamboozle police camera technology . This renders the vehicles practically invisible to authorities, allowing drivers to flout speed limits, run red lights, and engage in other vehicular shenanigans with seeming impunity. It’s like a real-life cheat code for the road, except the consequences can extend far beyond a video game.
West Midlands MP Sarah Coombes has highlighted this “serious criminal issue,” noting the laughably lenient penalties for using these plates. Currently, offenders face a mere £100 fine and no penalty points – a slap on the wrist compared to the consequences of actual speeding. It’s akin to getting a parking ticket for parking in a No-Parking zone while actively robbing a bank.
The issue is twofold. Not only are reckless drivers getting away with potentially dangerous behavior, but there’s also the risk to ordinary, law-abiding citizens. Imagine being hit by a car with ghost plates, only to find out they’re not registered with insurers, leaving you with a hefty bill and a whole lot of frustration.
Ms. Coombes emphasizes that ANPR and number plates are integral to UK road safety . Allowing drivers to “doctor” their plates and evade prosecution creates a tempting loophole, putting innocent people at risk. The concern is that this ghostly phenomenon is “more widespread than initially thought,” suggesting a growing underworld of drivers exploiting this technological loophole.
The call for tougher punishments is rising . It’s clear that a £100 fine isn’t enough to deter drivers from essentially becoming road ghosts. The current situation is like trying to stop a poltergeist with a feather duster – utterly ineffective. Stricter measures are needed to exorcise these ghost plates and restore balance to the roads. Until we find a solution, drivers will continue to go incognito and go through cameras as a ghost.
