Prime Minister Andy Burnham will oversee new measures to tackle illegal number plates, including 'ghost' plates, following the Road Safety Strategy launched under Sir Keir Starmer's administration. The government has promised to crack down on the issue and is considering introducing tougher penalties for driving a vehicle with illegal plates, such as penalty points and vehicle seizure.
Consultation and Proposed Measures
The government strategy, which ran consultations from January to May, aims to address the problem of 'ghost' number plates used by drivers to evade detection. New proposals include reviewing current numberplate standards and empowering the DVLA to carry out more robust checks on suppliers. The government will also explore using AI technology to identify illegal plates.
Penalties and Political Support
Tougher penalties are being considered, including penalty points and vehicle seizure for those using illegal plates. The strategy aims to balance deterring, punishing and rehabilitating offenders. Labour MP Sarah Coombes has called for fines of up to £1,000 and six-point penalties for drivers using ghost plates.
She said: "The drivers using these ghost plates have gone under the radar for too long, but now they've been rumbled and it's time to crack down on them."
