Ghost Plates – A Growing Challenge, how TagMaster Provides the Solution
What is a Ghost Plate?
Ghost plates, sometimes called stealth or fake plates, look normal to the human eye but are deliberately altered to trick Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Drivers use reflective sprays, translucent films, or modified fonts to make their plates unreadable under infrared light. Others rely on simple methods such as tape, mud, or covers to obscure their registration.
A Significant and Costly Problem
The scale of the problem is alarming. Studies suggest that as many as one in fifteen vehicles on UK roads may be fitted with plates that ANPR cannot read. In London, targeted inspections found that over 40% of private hire and taxi vehicles carried ghost plates. Techniques such as non-reflective coatings or altered characters are being used not only to dodge congestion charges, tolls, and speeding fines, but also to enable far more serious crimes. According to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, organised crime groups are increasingly using ghost plates to move around undetected.
The penalties are relatively low. Being caught with an illegal plate usually results in a £100 fine, with no penalty points added to the licence. For offenders, this is a small price to pay for operating under the radar. Meanwhile, authorities lose millions in revenue every year, and public safety is undermined as reckless drivers evade detection. Transport for London alone issued more than 36,000 fines for cloned plates last year, a dramatic increase from 22,450 the year before. Innocent drivers are also affected, forced to prove their case when their legitimate plates are copied.
TagMaster Meets Today’s Challenges
To restore trust in enforcement systems, TagMaster has developed the CT45 ANPR camera, a purpose-built solution to combat ghost plates. The CT45 combines high-definition video with dual lenses, infrared and colour, working together with advanced AI algorithms to detect anomalies that traditional systems miss.
Robert Litzén, Product Manager at TagMaster, explains:
“We see a worrying trend where ghost plates are used to avoid both fees and responsibility. It’s not just about lost revenue—these plates put people at risk and hinder law enforcement. That’s why we developed CT45 with dual lenses and intelligent software. The colour camera reveals the characters the infrared lens can’t see, and our AI flags even the smallest anomaly. With CT45, our customers can be confident they are one step ahead of ghost plates, every time.”
How CT45 Defeats Ghost Plates
Dual verification of plates: The infrared lens reads reflective characters, while the colour lens captures details that coatings or tampering are meant to hide. Together, they expose ghost plates that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Clear images in all conditions: Motorised autofocus lenses, built-in illumination, and advanced image processing deliver sharp, balanced images day or night, even in challenging backlight.
AI-powered recognition: The built-in Jet Recognition engine uses deep learning to detect irregularities and flag suspicious plates instantly, reducing errors and supporting enforcement teams in real time.
Benefits for the UK Market
Recovered revenues: By detecting ghost plates, parking operators and authorities can ensure that congestion charges, tolls, and ULEZ fees are collected fairly.
Enhanced security: Police and security agencies can track vehicles with tampered plates often linked to crime, making roads and public spaces safer.
Reduced false claims: Accurate recognition minimises misreads and protects innocent drivers from the consequences of cloned plates.
Future-proof integration: With an open software platform, AI-based OCR, and support for standard interfaces, CT45 integrates seamlessly into existing systems and adapts to future requirements.
Dependable performance: With IP66 aluminium housing, shock and vibration resistance, and an operating range of –40°C to +60°C, CT45 is built for demanding environments.
Ready to Outsmart Ghost Plates?
TagMaster’s CT45 delivers unmatched accuracy, helping you recover lost revenue, strengthen enforcement, and keep roads safer. Let’s explore how our ANPR solutions can support your projects.
Sources
- Trading Standards UK — CTSI calls for tougher penalties on the use and sale of ghost number plates
- ITN Business — Ghost plates: How motorists are exploiting ANPR vulnerabilities and the tech fighting back
- Utopia Plates — Debunking the myths about ghost number plates
- The Guardian — Cloned number plates investigation