Politicians are looking to crack down on so-called ghost plates after a reported rise in drivers running red lights and breaking the speed limit. Labour MP Sarah Coombes is trying to change the law to stop counterfeit, illegal number plates being used, by increasing the fine to £1,000.
“The behaviour of a few reckless drivers is putting us all at risk. The punishments need to be tougher.”. Currently, the fine can only be £100, the same as the minimum penalty for speeding – which also comes with three penalty points. It means the punishment for using a ghost plate could be less than the penalty for committing the driving offence they are looking to avoid being caught for.
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Ms Coombes is putting her plan forward to the Commons on Wednesday but will need government support for it to become law. A government spokesperson told Sky: "This government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the number of those killed and injured on our roads.
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"Since the general election, the Labour Government has begun work on a new road-safety strategy, the first in over a decade. Ministers will share more details of the strategy in due course.". This is what we know. Ghost plates are modified car number plates that reflect light back and stop Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras from being able to read the figures.
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The plates can cost as little as £30 and could potentially stop users being fined if they drive in a bus lane, break the speed limit, or flout a traffic restriction. Around one in 15 plates in circulation could be ghost plates, according to Sky, while a police exercise in London found that 40 per cent of taxi and private hire vehicles had modified plates.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, told Sky: "Drivers manipulating their number plates in any way is a serious offence. "While steps are needed to tackle the root cause of the problem, some feel that a lack of traffic police increases their chances of getting away with such activity.".
