
MP demands clampdown on 'ghost' number plates
Sarah Coombes, who represents West Bromwich, wants the penalties increased to tackle illegal licence plates which are being used by some motorists to run red lights and ignore speed limits.
Motorists can buy so-called 'ghost' or 'stealth' plates for as little as £30. They reflect light back, preventing the registration number from being clearly seen by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
The Labour MP wants the fine for being caught with a non-compliant number plate increased to £1,000 and at least six penalty points.
Currently, drivers caught with one can be fined £100. That compares to the minimum penalty for speeding which is a £100 fine and three penalty points.
"There are a select minority of people who think they are above the law. The behaviour of a few reckless drivers is putting us all at risk. The punishments need to be tougher," she said.
The scale of number plate misuse is unclear but one estimate suggests around 1 in 15 plates could be modified in some way.
One police exercise conducted in London found that 40% of taxi and private hire vehicles had coatings applied to their plates that made them unreadable to ANPR cameras.
Tony Porter, the UK's former surveillance camera commissioner, said: "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."
Ms Coombes is putting forward her plan in the Commons on Wednesday using a 10-minute rule motion. But unless it gets government support the idea is unlikely to progress into law.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said: "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."
A government spokesperson said: "This government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the number of those killed and injured on our roads.
"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."

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Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Now shut migrant protest hotel: As demonstrators clash again in Epping, Tories demand that Labour listen to local concerns and move asylum seekers
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The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
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People are beginning to make a link between the undesirables coming into Britain unchecked and rising crime Nigel Farage What is different about these demos — and should be ringing alarm bells in Downing Street — is that they are being attended mostly by mums, who are genuinely worried about their own and their children's safety. This is the silent majority who have had enough and think it is time to speak out. Nigel Farage has been quick to spot this simmering resentment and has launched a six-week campaign to highlight rising crime. The Reform UK leader declared: 'People are beginning to make a link between the undesirables coming into Britain unchecked and rising crime. There is also a mounting sense of anger that the establishment is always trying to stop us from having a reasonable debate.' 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And they feel betrayed by politicians who they perceive as closing down any debate on their concerns and putting the rights of illegal migrants ahead of hard-working Brits. The social contract is in danger of breaking down as all they get in return for paying record taxes is platitudes and promises. Successive governments vowed to 'take back control', 'stop the boats' and 'smash the gangs'. The former human rights lawyer in No10 may not have his heart in tackling the migrant crisis. But he knows if he doesn't, the next line of people he sees will be those queuing up to vote him out of office. THE nanny state is throwing its protective arm around even more aspects of our daily lives. It now offers advice that goes far beyond the familiar 'mind the gap'. Walking through a London rail terminal the other day, I was dazzled by three video screens urging me and my fellow travellers to 'remember to keep drinking water in the hot weather'. 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The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Labour must speed up plans to shut all asylum hotels, says party's red wall chief
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