Dodgy drivers have found a way of swerving punishment for a number of offences, including speeding and running red lights, by using “ghost” or “stealth” plates on their car
A motoring crime wave is far “worse than thought” amid a surge of drivers using “ghost” number plates that make their vehicles “invisible” to police.
By attaching the special plates, drivers can swerve punishment for a number of driving offences, including speeding, running red lights and other dangerous behaviour on the road. MPs are currently pushing for harsher penalties for people caught using the dodgy plates. At the moment, offenders are hit with just a £100 fine without any penalty points on their license. People caught speeding face both punishments.
Officials are worried that the tampering and cloning of plates is much more common than initially thought. Dangerous driving is not the only risk as innocent motorists involved in a collision could be forced to foot the bill if hit by someone using the duplicitous plates, Birmingham Live reports.
West Bromwich’s MP, Sarah Coombes, who is campaigning for harsher penalties, told Parliament: “This is a serious criminal issue. And at the moment, the penalties for covering up your number plate or changing it in some way is less than what you’d get for a speeding ticket. I know that most drivers in West Brom are just trying to get to work or drop their kids off at school. They are safe and careful drivers.
“But there are a select minority of people who think they are above the law. They think that by using a ghost plate they can get away with running red lights, drunk driving, ignoring speed limits and much, much worse. It can’t be right that these drivers are not being caught by police for creating so much danger on our roads. The punishments need to be tougher.”
Ms Coombes further stated: “ANPR and the humble number plate is hot-wired into the UK’s road safety. If people think, by doctoring their plates, they can speed, drive without due care or without insurance to evade prosecution – then we need to remove this temptation. Innocent members of the public are being put at risk.”