Number plates are being used to evade the M50 toll and cloak the identity of stolen cars
There have been calls for regulation of the sale of car registration plates in Ireland. Currently no legislation is in place relating to how these plates are sold, and there is evidence to suggest that this is leading to abuse, whereby registration plates are bought legally but are then used on different cars to defraud the M50 toll, or even to hide the fact that a car is stolen.
“The National Roads Authority say that while there have been instances where cars have gone through the M50 tolls using counterfeit plates, they now have systems in place whereby discrepancies can be detected quickly.
“Our systems are able to cross-reference car registration plates with vehicle records in Shannon, and if the plates don’t match the car this can be flagged.”
The Irish Timeswas able to buy a registration plate for a Mercedes-Benz C-Class (which we had as a press demonstrator) on an Irish website, Micksgarage.ie, without having to show any proof of ownership of the vehicle.
In other markets, such as the UK and Germany, you are required to show proof of ownership, such as a vehicle licence certificate, in order to buy authentic plates.
In Germany, for example, to replace lost or stolen plates you require two documents that prove that the vehicle is registered and who owns it: a document from the police which states that your number plate got lost and a certificate from the registration office which states that you have lost your plates.
In addition to this there is a stamp that you have to stick on to your number plates in Germany. That stamp shows when the vehicle next has to go for a safety inspection.
“The system does need regulating,” says Det Sgt Finbarr Garland, head of the Garda stolen-vehicles unit. “The plates can be bought like a packet of sweets. There is no way of tracing the company who made up the plates used on a vehicle involved in serious offence – or, indeed, the person who requested it.”
Garland points to the UK as a market where there is tighter controls in this regard.
“The UK have legislation in place now whereby any person who requires a licence plate for a vehicle must produce identification and the vehicle registration document for that vehicle.
“The plate itself is traceable back to the supplier who made it up. They also must be licensed to make up plates.”