Thoughts on numberplate recognition

Larry · 2006-01-29T16:17:24+00:00

I have been wondering how the software works, I presume it scans the area ofthe front and rear of the vehicle looking for something close enough to theaccepted font to read it.Supposing one had more than one plate, now the second plate need not be afalse numberplate, just something obvios enough to plod to be a sign or showplate but using the accepted font, how would the software react ?The law with regard to plates seems to be a bit of an Ass anyway, so far asI know it is not illegal to buy plates abroad without producing a V5C andwhilst it might technically be an offence to fit them as new plates, if I amgoing for the historic look who is going to tell they are not originals, orcare, so long as the numbers are legible and close enough.

Jan 29, 2006 26 Replies

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Dave Liquorice 20 years ago

No but that takes time and someones wages. I doubt that all non reads etc actually get looked at by a human, within the timescale required to send out the fine, only a sample. If you regularly use the "trick" then they'll start looking for you(*) but once in a blue moon...

(*) No doubt the system can also make a pretty damn good stab at vehicle recognition as a well. Number plates alone do not in anyway identify the vehicle, you need the make, model and colour as well.

It's all well and good insisting that the plate makers postcode is in 6pt moulding in the plates but that isn't going to stop back street Johny making up plates for his dubious mates. As has already been said who is going to routinely the check that ABC Motors CF4 2GB actually exists?

Totally useless legislation but dangerously giving a sense of security.

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Dave Liquorice 20 years ago

That wasn't suggested just have two plates, both valid for that make/model/colour of vehicle. Make the "false" one more prominent that the other and you may well be able to force the system to read that one more often than the real one...

Mind you displaying to different but real looking two plates is probably a very good nick nick attractor.

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Larry 20 years ago

Have to be a suitably high frequency then either that or a microwave burst that burns up the electronics and renders it FUBAR

(chainsaw would do just as well but more conspicuous)

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itcosthowmuch????? 20 years ago

the flash /pusle bright light dosent work , as most are now video

Far be it from me to suggest some thing illegal or a way of circumventing the system , but it would be interesting to see what the law says on driving a 'restored ' military land rover displaying its mod plates ............ read my original post and think about it ! ( i know it works )

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Austin Shackles 20 years ago

On or around Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:15:33 +0000 (UTC), Simon Isaacs enlightened us thusly:

ah, but they're "show plates, not for road use"

meanwhile... the regulations about postcode apply to new plates issued after

2001. They also apply to new plates put on older vehicles. but if you replace the plates on an older vehicle and use traditional ones, you simply claim that it was done prior to 2001.

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Larry 20 years ago

But the microwaves would. and also a sufficiently bright light in the background is going to cause it to overexpose, have you ever tried taking pictures against the light ?

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