Just Sharing This Cloned License Plates

Mickha

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My parents just received a fine, for driving in an emissions zone, at 17:30, in London.
They had a photograph, with the license plate, on the same make/model/colour/year car.

Of course they weren't in London, they were hundreds of miles away, and fortunately can prove it.
The only difference, between their car, and the one in the photograph, was the headlight cluster, the one in the photograph had a separate indicator.

Apparently this is becoming more common, in the UK, with speeding cameras, and various other road charges.

I knew it was extremely popular, for years, in the U.S. due to toll roads, and speed cameras, but didn't realize how it had spread to the U.K..

I have also read stories, of how difficult it is to fight these charges, if the car is exactly the same, and you can't prove that it wsn't you, not to mention, the time, expense, and problems, you have, travelling to/from the court, and the risk of having further charges, added on, especially in the U.S.

In the U.K. it's a lot easier, as you can do it on the internet, fill in a form, challenging the fine, and it's then suspended, pending an investigation, but they cn expect more of these, over the next few months, until the perpetrator is either caught, or switches to a differet, cloned, license plate.

I did file a complaint, with the Metropolitan Police, who will try to find the car, using her cloned plate, but they didn't hold out much hope, in a city that big, with all the traffic, and the fact that they can't even be sure if the car is still in London.

The problem is how easy it is, to get fake license plates, matching most cars, as they generally look the same, especially on a blurred photograph.

Anyone else experienced this problem?
 

Analoguesat

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I did file a complaint, with the Metropolitan Police, who will try to find the car, using her cloned plate, but they didn't hold out much hope, in a city that big, with all the traffic, and the fact that they can't even be sure if the car is still in London.
With all those anpr cameras covering linked together in the UK they will know within a few minutes if its still being used....
 

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I had a problem with an unattended red light camera once, I got something in the mail from a police department in Phoenix Arizona, I wounder what the heck it was about as I haven't been to Arizona for 20+ years, I opened it to find a photo ticket for a left U turn on a red light. (signage posting no U turns)

Well I was amazed as I live in rural central California, the photo showed my old car that I traded in for the one I'm driving now, it also showed that the driver was oh about a 40 year old African American female.

So I photo copied my drivers license, blew it up to fit an 8x10 sheet of paper,(so they could read it clearly), a copy of the transfer of title, and sent it back with a note telling them to stick it their ear.

Never heard back from them again.
 
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rolfw

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My friend had a Lexus 4WD a few years back and traded it in for the newer model of the same colour, the garage had the old car on the forecourt and some travellers bought it cash before it was even put up for sale, unfortunately the garage had left the old personal plates on it and didn't take them off, as the travellers took it away straight away, having been told that they were no longer valid for that car. They then of course used it in and around Croydon area for 6 months or so, with loads of tickets coming in. It was fortunate, that although the model and colour were the same, the newer one had a different light cluster and a few cosmetic differences, so he was able to fight the cases.
 

Channel Hopper

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Yes, my wife had a ticket some years ago for parking violations in North London, yet the car was in a car park in Kingston and had a ticket for the time of the offence.

I would assume yours is a last throw of the dice for some independent clamping monkey before they go onto the next scam.
 

pontiend

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Many years ago I scrapped my type 2 VW camper in a bad way with no engine.A few years ago I got a ticket for it from somewhere down there ,I forget where probably london. I replied that it had been scrapped I heard nothing after that.
 

sonnetpete

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It's happening increasingly here in France too. I frequently see posts on ex pat forums complaining about fines being levied on drivers who were nowhere near where the offence took place. Sadly, it may dissuade ex pats from re registering their UK vehicles in France.
 

Topper

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Just before covid, I was in London in the car and my wife was carefully navigating me around the danger zone for charges, we then came across a diversion, of course I did not realise at the time that the diversion had just taken me into the emissions zone albeit only for one block so when back with family I checked on-line and discovered I had been fined, being a tourist to the city, I reluctantly paid up on-line to reduce the fine to a minimum, I could not face a long protracted argument about the dozy t**t that put up signage that redirected folk into the zone, probably told to do it by Sad IQ Khan
 

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It's happening increasingly here in France too. I frequently see posts on ex pat forums complaining about fines being levied on drivers who were nowhere near where the offence took place. Sadly, it may dissuade ex pats from re registering their UK vehicles in France.

At least my French fine is justified - caught red handed by two female cops with a handheld d vice (Please, no smut ) doing 70 in a 50 limit exiting Trimouille last week.

Ba***ARDS!
 

sonnetpete

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Ahh yes, not only that but the white 'cube' speed cameras that are sneakily dropped off during the night. Until they are painted, set on fire or attacked with a chain saw by friendly locals that is...
 

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Yep. Saw a few "uniquely adapted" fixed cameras!
 

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I knew someone who had their plates cloned. The cloned car was in the same city too!

Did the police give you a crime reference number? If not, try Action Fraud.
 

Mickha

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Ye, the Metropolitan Police provided a Crime reference number, which was passed on to TFL (Traffic For London), who issued the ticket.
 
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