Overview
- This week manufacturers and local reporting said new MAV Systems AI cameras deployed on south‑east motorways have flagged thousands of suspected ghost plates each day at sites near the Dartford Crossing, the M25 and Folkestone.
- The cameras combine infrared and colour imaging with on‑board AI that compares both sensor feeds so characters that appear transparent under infrared can be identified and read.
- Investigations and university tests have shown ghost plates use plastics or coatings that go pale under infrared light, making letters invisible to conventional ANPR systems that rely on infrared illumination.
- Regulatory gaps help the problem spread because the DVLA register lists more than 34,000 authorised suppliers, a BBC Freedom of Information request found only two forced removals since 2020 and just six staff auditing the list.
- The government has created a National Roads Policing Coordination Centre and begun trials of officer detection goggles and other tools, while existing law allows fines up to £1,000 and possible vehicle seizure for drivers who display non‑compliant plates.