Quite a few people on here seem keen on the idea of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) for catching roadtax dodgers, tracking down stolen cars, etc. but I've noticed something more and more lately that might be a bit of a weakness.

Over the last few months, I've strated seeing a lot of high-end BMWs and Mercs with foreign plates (and also a clapped-out Italian FIAT Ducato). I know for a fact that the FIAT van doesn't belong to a tourist, as it the guy who runs a slightly dodgy grocer's near where I used to live. The fact that most of the other cars I see tend to have pimp-tints and massive alloys also makes me think that not all of them are tourists either. :thumbdwn:

So my question is, can ANPR do anything about these people? I can't imagine they're taxed or insured, seeing how their vehicles aren't UK registered. Presumably if that's the case then the DVLA can't trace the owners either. But seeing how that's the whole point of ANPR, it's a bit of a serious weakness... About the only thing I can think that the police could do is keep a record of foreign plates, and if the car's seen around a lot, then I suppose they could pass the info on to the traffic police and tell them to keep a look-out.

Although the irony of shady types in the UK buying dodgy M5s off blokes from Lithuania who probably had them nicked to order from the UK in the first place seems quite amusing...! Who said Free Enterprise was dead!

We used to have a guy who worked here on his gap year from uni in Germany. He happily went though all manner of speed cameras and got flashed/snapped etc.

He got letters dememnding money throught he post to his German address but never paid them, just returned them as "not known at this address".

That was 2 years ago and he still hasnt had any points/fines that have stuck.

If a car on Foreign plates stays in this country for a "period "of time doesn't it have to be re- registered with english plates??

If a car on Foreign plates stays in this country for a "period "of time doesn't it have to be re- registered with english plates??

My old French teacher got his knuckles rapped for that with his Twingo that he brought over from France but didn't register at his UK address. It was still registered where he lived in France during the holidays, but that obviously wasn't good enough... :confused:

If a car on Foreign plates stays in this country for a "period "of time doesn't it have to be re- registered with english plates??

Yeah, I think it's 6 months...?

ANPR teams (the ones in the vans, rather than the fixed sites) do often pull drivers with foreign plates for this very reason, if there's not much else happening. And if the car looks dodgy / dangerous then any officer in a car will pull it regardless of it's plates being UK / European so it's not a major problem in my opinion... Just gets more offences to charge them with

I remmeber watching one of those traffic plod shows once where a Traffic Car was fitted with ANPR and a live link to the computer system. It flagged up the vehicle in front as having no Tax so they pulled it over.

Inside were 3 illegal immigrante who'd been working as builders in London. The car had a valid tax disc - turns out the APNR has misread the number plate!

The illegal immigrants were taken away for questioning.

I remmeber watching one of those traffic plod shows once where a Traffic Car was fitted with ANPR and a live link to the computer system. It flagged up the vehicle in front as having no Tax so they pulled it over.

Inside were 3 illegal immigrante who'd been working as builders in London. The car had a valid tax disc - turns out the APNR has misread the number plate!

The illegal immigrants were taken away for questioning.

Lucky!

Yeah' date=' I think it's 6 months...?

ANPR teams (the ones in the vans, rather than the fixed sites) do often pull drivers with foreign plates for this very reason, if there's not much else happening. And if the car looks dodgy / dangerous then any officer in a car will pull it regardless of it's plates being UK / European so it's not a major problem in my opinion... Just gets more offences to charge them with [/quote']

I think the mobile ones round here tend to have some of the high speed chase vehicles parked down the road that pull people over if they won't stop easily. I've seen a Jag and an Octy being used. Didn't think the locals had an Octy mind.

I think the mobile ones round here tend to have some of the high speed chase vehicles parked down the road that pull people over if they won't stop easily. I've seen a Jag and an Octy being used. Didn't think the locals had an Octy mind.

ANPR teams usually consist of the actual ANPR van and a couple of Interceptors - either a couple of cars or a couple of bikes etc.

An ANPR operation I was involved in had ~10 officers stoping and dealing with cars that were flagged along with a T5 and 2 motorbikes stopping those that thought they could get away... Produced some cracking results (for burglary especially) And not one person tried to run me over! I did almost get run over a few weeks later mind you.

ANPR and gatsos will only be cured when we start carrying fire arms and adopt a shoot to kill policy with the operators.

Or can someone tell me where to buy the NFS:MW get out of jail free cards.....

?

ANPR teams usually consist of the actual ANPR van and a couple of Interceptors - either a couple of cars or a couple of bikes etc.

An ANPR operation I was involved in had ~10 officers stoping and dealing with cars that were flagged along with a T5 and 2 motorbikes stopping those that thought they could get away... Produced some cracking results (for burglary especially) And not one person tried to run me over! I did almost get run over a few weeks later mind you.

I just thought, we have one not far from my house actually, its a long layby that they use. They do ANPR, red diesel testing and random stops all together, they make everyone slow right down by making them queue on the roundabout. I won't have to do this I'll be chasing idiots for not paying their train fare all day .

I'll be chasing idiots for not paying their train fare all day .

Tickets please!