Any - Occlusive numberplates

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Thu 6 Sep 2012 23:04
Any - Occlusive numberplates - hillman

I drew up behind a parked car tonight with my headlights on dipped beam. The rear numberplate of the parked car was effectively unreadable because the plate reflected light in vertical lines. When I switch off the dipped beam (onto sidelights) the numberplate was clearer but still unreadable. When I switched off the lights completely the numberplate was perfectly legible in the ambient street lighting. To make sure my eyes were not deceiving me I tried the same with all the parked cars for the next 50 yds and they were all perfectly legible under headlights.

I said to SWMBO that the numberplates must be made to defeat the gantry cameras that register average speed through a section but she thinks I am a conspiracy nut. Has anybody else come across them ?

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Fri 7 Sep 2012 00:35
Any - Occlusive numberplates - tony g
Hi ,
I remember a case involving these extra reflective plates a few years ago.

As you rightly say in normal light conditions they are as readable as ordinary plates .

However I seem to remember the police bringing a prosecution after a traffic car came up behind a car fitted with these plates at night . The officers realised that the number plate couldn't be read because of the excessive reflection and the driver was prosecuted .

I can't remember what the driver was charged with ,possibly attempting to pervert the cause of justice ?

Tony g
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Fri 7 Sep 2012 01:00
Any - Occlusive numberplates - concrete
Hello tony, I think the offence was simply failure to display a legible number plate. I suppose that means under any lighting conditions. I recall reading somewhere that reflective or refractive index had to be a certain way to comply. The article was from 3m who make the reflective backgrounds for road signs etc. very interesting though and kind of sneaky but ok, until mr plod drives up behind you. Cheers. Concrete
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Fri 7 Sep 2012 13:53
Any - Occlusive numberplates - MikeTorque

hillman - the plates are illegal, report the vehicle and appropriate action will then be taken.

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Sat 8 Sep 2012 10:24
Any - Occlusive numberplates - martint123

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/regulation/11...e

11.—(1) No reflex-reflecting material may be applied to any part of a registration plate and the plate must not be treated in such a way that the characters of the registration mark become, or are caused to act as, retroreflective characters.

(2) A registration plate must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.

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