Illegal Plates could lose you your licence

[Kal]

MCN 18.01.06
by Andy Downes

Penalties for small number plates to be ramped up because they foil the governments planned new Big Brother spy network

Points on your licence for illegal numberplates could be part of a massive clampdown that will see every bike journey in Britain logged and stored on computer.
A plan for a huge new national spy network will see every CCTV camera near a road linked to a central police system - but the cameras cant read illegal number plates.
Police admit that because of this, new crackdowns on illegal plates are inevitable. And MCN has been told that plans are also in place to ramp up the penalties for small fines from fines to points on your licence.
One traffic officer, who asked not to be named, said: "We are all convinced the next step is going to be points. Fines are no deterrent."
Currently, if you're caught with an illegal plate, a rectification notice is issued (along with a £30 fine), which has to see the plate changed and inspected at an MOT station within seven days.
The crackdown on illegal plates would be introduced in parallel with the national roll-out of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which will see every road CCTV camera linked with those at places like petrol stations as well.
Information about every identified vehicle's location ata particular time will then be gathered through the Police national Computer in North London, analysed for evidence of criminal activity, then stored for up to five years.
It takes 0.2 seconds for the cameras to read a plate and a further five seconds for computers t find out if the vehicle is wanted in connection with any offences or is uninsured.
More than 50 local authorities have signed up for the scheme, which has the full backing of the Association of Cheif Police Officers (ACPO), and has the government has earmarked £24 million to get it up and running this year.
The APNR natioanl co-ordinator at ACPO is John Dean. He told MCN: "The APNR system is very sophisticated but many of the small and illegal number plates in use can defeat the software. Until now modified number plates have not been a major focus of policing. Now anyone with a non-standard plate faces action. The DVLA rules are very clear about what can and can't be used on a numberplate - anything outside those rules is illegal."
MCN has spoken to numberplate makers who estimate that as many as half the bikes on British roads have plates that deviate in some way from the legal requirements.
Dean added: "People think they can defeat APNR by changing their numberplates so they are unreadable - what will happen in these cases is they will be apprehanded by a dedicate ANPR chase team."
A typical team consists of a ANPR-enabled van, two squad cars and six police bikes.
Dean added: "There are definate links between drivers who commit traffic offences like driving without insurance and the likehood of them being a criminal."
A Department of Transport spokesman said: "We want the police to have all available means for enforcement at their disposal. If the police want existing punishments toughened up we will look at it closely. we are constantly looking for ways to improve enforcement in the light of the APNR roll-out."

[Gummiente]

I'm not clear on what an"illegal number plate" is where you are. Does that mean a plate that has false information on it...?

[Kal]

The size of the plate, distribution of the digits, background colour, colour of the digits, font of the digits are all laid down in law - anything else is illegal.

Actually I dont have a problem with that.

I was born in the worlds longest exisiting democracy, this was a free country.

Over the last 14 years, since the Criminal Justice Act of 1992, personal freedoms have been disappearing in this country with every new law passed.

Playing music with a repetitive beat in a public place is illegal.
Gathering groups of more than three in public places is illegal.
There is no right to silence.
The Police can tap your phone on the authority of a Chief Constable or Assitant Chief Constable.

The list goes on and on and on.

My problem is that every time I take my bike out I will be tracked. The information will be stored for five years and I have no idea who will have access or how it will be used.

The APNR systemhas been used in London for the past couple of years to administer the congestion charge. This is basically a charge that is applied for using roads in London during peak periods - however some lunatic proved that the cameras were on 24/7 tracking every vehicle entering London and leaving it. Just to top it off while the information is used by the London authority it is actually collated and stored by a Private Company.

No, I dont trust my Government, I dont trust big business and I sincerely believe that this isnt a free country anymore. If I could emigrate, I would.

[Gummiente]

If I could emigrate, I would.

Come on over, we'll take you in.

But it's not just your country that is slowly eroding away the rights of the individual and/or the motorcyclist. Canada passed a law recently making it illegal to form a group of four or more motorcyclists. This was in response to problems with well-known bike gangs and is an atempt to prevent the formation of new chapters. Problem is, the wording of the law is such that even a club like the Blue Knights is illegal under its terms. I wonder how many of THEIR rallies will be raided?

Anyway, back to the number plates. From what you've explained, it sounds like you're allowed to make your own, is that right? Like what France allows? I remember seeing a number plate there once that was made of plywood painted black with hand painted numbers.

[Sev]

I heard that the U.K. was the most watched (surveilance) country in the world. I'm starting to believe it.

[jmillheiser]

Hey Kal your more than welcome to come on over to the US.

Sadly, it sounds like the UK has turned into a regular police state. Even with the patriot act BS the US has never gotten as bad as you describe.

[Kal]

Its insidious, like you dont even notice it happening. The day after the APNR roll out will be the same as the day before it, we will just be a little less free.

Each of the laws passed since CJA havent in themselves made that much difference, but there is a mounting effect. Dont worry I dont have a Bill Hicks -Grassy Knole conspiracy theory, I think its just because its easy fixes. Dont like something - pass a law against it, have an embarresing problem - hghlight some other behaviour you deem dangerous to society and pass a a law against that. Menawhile the real issues and the real problems just seem to be growing.

This governement is commited to bringing Identity Cards into peoples lives in the next four years. Our new identity card (Which although compulsory will cost £80 or so) will not just have the usual biographical details on but also fingerprints, retinal scans and according to some sources genetic markers.

The good news is that the original plan to have them chipped so they can be tracked has been scrapped.

They are talking about tracking our cars via satelite, just so they know when we've been speeding like without resorting to all these expensive Police Officers.

All of this is for our protection. All of it is to stop organised gangs, criminals and terrorists. Except it dosnt work when you start pulling it apart. The laws will make no difference to organsied mobs of youths - certainlly the recent laws against wearing hoodies hasnt made an impact on them. The Organised Criminals and Terrorists are the only people with the ability and support needed to bypass these laws. So just who are these laws supposed to protect us from?

This Country has always had gangs, always had organised criminals and always had terrorists. Suddenly we are unable to cope with them? It makes no sense.

I've 16 years before my son is old enough to make his own decisions, if I emigrate thats when I'll be doing it, either to New Zealand or Canada.

[RTR]

I heard that the U.K. was the most watched (surveilance) country in the world. I'm starting to believe it.

The CCTV system installed in the UK, was initially used as a "Anti-Terrorist' tool. Since technologies have increased and the usefulness of the cameras have increased, general movement tracking has become a game for authorities.

Note: UK is not a country. But a series of countries. Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[Kal]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-circuit_television

Only another 15 years to go, New Zealand is looking good.

[Loonette]

Okay, so I feel a little less uptight about the US and its recent policies after reading your post. I hate to use the following word as it may trigger an investigation of me, but it seems that we're in need of a good old-fashioned revolution. I too have thought about moving our family to New Zealand or Canada, but then I wonder how long it will be before the US government and its band of freedom fighters will show up and ruin that country as well. I suppose every country has its set of problems, but I'm feeling more and more constricted (and paranoid) these days.

Cheers,
Loonette