Can police check number plates?

In layman’s terms, the moment a vehicle passes an ANPR camera, its number plates are read and processed into the system. In a matter of seconds, the plate is checked against a database of vehicles of interest (wanted by the police or other authorities).

Can a car be parked on the road with no MOT?

If your car has no MOT pass certificate, it should not be parked on the public highway and you should look to book it in for its MOT immediately. Whilst it’s parked on the public highway without an MOT it could be reported, resulting in you being fined and your car seized.

How many UK police cars have ANPR?

According to the police, there are around 11,000 ANPR cameras across the UK which submit around 50 million ANPR ‘read’ records to national ANPR systems every day.

What happens if police stop you without MOT?

Being caught driving without a valid MOT certificate could result in a police caution, but in some cases it can carry the penalty of massive fines of up to £2,500. Fines can also include points on your licence or a driving disqualification in more severe cases.

Do you get 14 days grace for an MOT?

Many people believe that there is a two-week grace period for lapsed MOTs – which can allow drivers a leeway period to get their vehicle booked in for their MOT test. Unfortunately, despite popular belief, the ‘MOT grace period’ is actually a myth.

Do all police cars have ANPR 2020?

Not every police vehicle is mounted with an ANPR camera. Exact figures of how many police vehicles have ANPR systems installed is not readily available for all regions. That said, some police forces do disclose this information on their websites.

Do speed cameras check MOT?

Do ANPR cameras check MOT? Yes, it is possible for ANPR cameras to determine whether or not vehicles have a valid MOT. This is because ANPR systems can be used to cross-check vehicle registrations with the relevant databases that track vehicles without valid MOT certificates or road tax.

What does a police database show about a license plate?

Beyond criminal activity, the police database contains extensive information linked to the license plate data. For instance, a car might show that it is registered to someone who owes parking fines, or who is uninsured. The data might also show that the license plate is attached to the wrong vehicle, pointing to stolen plates.

Is the UK’s number plate system too open to abuse?

The UK’s number plate system is wide open to abuse because of the easy availability of fake plates online, while the number of traffic stops for missing or dodgy plates reached a five-year high in 2018, Auto Express can exclusively reveal.

What is automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)?

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is a technology for automatically reading vehicle number plates. The Home Office states ANPR is used by law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality including tackling organised crime groups and terrorists.

Can the police tell if you have a cloned number plate?

The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) told us “ANPR [automatic number plate recognition] data is increasingly enabling police to identify vehicles operating on cloned plates using tools such as journey time analysis. Thisfurther informs our investigative work.”