All number plates aren’t created equal and a growing number of plates with illegal fonts bolts and spacing have evolved. James Newell looks into the effect of this on the plate market as a whole and implications such as number plate recognition.
ANPR
ANPR or Automatic Number plate Recognition is one of the driving forces in the clampdown on illegal number plates.
The DVLA specify particular number plate fonts and styles as a means of regulating and standardising number plates- amongst other reasons this takes place to make number plate recognition possible for enforcing the law.
As ever more motorists appear to have tampered with their registration numbers it raises the concern that these vehicles may not be identified correctly using ANPR and as such the DVLA and police recognise that something needs to be done.
Illegal number plate values
Clearly if the value of your number plate is based on it’s illegal spacing then as the DVLA and police begin to tighten the rules so the value of your number plate may fall.
Who will buy a number plate which requires illegal spacing when illegally spacing the number plate can land them in hot water with the DVLA and the police?
What makes a number plate illegal?
Any deviation from the DVLA’s specifications about the size, shape and font used in your number plate.
Using a non-standard font, having a very small number plate, changing the spacing of characters and adding bolts and fixtures to manipulate the appearance of a number plate – these are all parts of what makes a number plate illegal.
The illegal number plate backlash
A growing number of motorists have taken issue with the display of illegal number plates and have retaliated with an online community to name and shame offenders.
Websites such as chavplate.org.uk make valid points about identifying vehicles at the scene of an accident etc.
The best way to identify the registration number of any vehicle is to check the tax disc- this is usually printed or written clearly.
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