Numberplate spacing

[PerryGunn]

I understand the difficulties provided to any OCR system, but surely, with the amount of money the government/DVLA/Police invest in Speed/ANPR cams and the revenue that it raises to reinvest on all of this, you'd expect that they would be able to overcome all the difficulties you've recited.

Having spent the first 15 years of my working life as a coder, I have a rough idea of how much extra work would be involved in this, so I'd like to ask you one quick question - how do you think it would look if the DVLA had to try to justify why they'd spent huge multiples of the original software budget for ANPR, so that they could relax the numberplate regulations just to allow a (tiny) minority to use alternative fonts, alter the spacing and mangle the numbers/letters to spell their name?

 

[exdos]

Having spent the first 15 years of my working life as a coder, I have a rough idea of how much extra work would be involved in this, so I'd like to ask you one quick question - how do you think it would look if the DVLA had to try to justify why they'd spent huge multiples of the original software budget for ANPR, so that they could relax the numberplate regulations just to allow a (tiny) minority to use alternative fonts, alter the spacing and mangle the numbers/letters to spell their name?

I am merely expressing my surprise that the technology doesn't already exist.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Having spent the first 15 years of my working life as a coder, I have a rough idea of how much extra work would be involved in this, so I'd like to ask you one quick question - how do you think it would look if the DVLA had to try to justify why they'd spent huge multiples of the original software budget for ANPR, so that they could relax the numberplate regulations just to allow a (tiny) minority to use alternative fonts, alter the spacing and mangle the numbers/letters to spell their name?

I am merely expressing my surprise that the technology doesn't already exist.

An understandable expression of surprise. I'm well aware of what changes have been made in compute power and normally the government doesn't shy on spending money so it can take more of ours...

 

[markeg]

The government should talk to the producers of CSI - have you seen what their software can do with standard CCTV images??

Seriously though, I am sure there is enhancement software around that can do this, but I don't see there being a need when it's cheaper to just ticket people for not conforming to standards. Also the military option may not be available in the civilian world, as image enhancement is an edge in PR that you probably don't want in the public forum...


Tapatalking...

 

[ben g]

The government should talk to the producers of CSI - have you seen what their software can do with standard CCTV images??

:lol:

 

[cj10jeeper]

I think the point was somewhat missed that you relax the spacing and fonts some individuals will shape and compress letters way beyond what's sensible. Will the allowed gap between a '1' &'3' be 5mm, 1mm or touching? Despite the technology which however clever wont figure out that a B should really be 13, unless they try to guess what it should be. How will traffic wardens, accident witnesses, etc. read them?

In any event as others have said why spend taxpayer money to allow a few to distort their plates beyond sensible recognition?

It'll never happen unless we replace plates with another technology.

 

[original guvnor]

I've always thought personalised number plates are a ridiculous exercise in vanity but I know I'm in a small minority of people who feel that way.

The fact that people will actually spend £'000's on them as well I find even more ridiculous. The first thing that I think when I see a personalised plate is "they're trying to disguise how old their car is". In any case if you use an app like MyCarCheck you can enter someone's reg no and find out exactly how old it is.

Irregular spacing is illegal because it would lead to people deliberately trying to disguise the true registration. Not every scenario where a crime had been committed will have an ANPR system in use. Often it will be a member of the general public noting the registration number down having witnessed a crime. If you do it you should get 3 points and a fixed penalty.

 

[Anonymous]

So you've got a plate, say, D3 BBY, in standard font and spacing.

Keeping the same font, why not have D3BBY?

Or D3B BY

You can have the space anywhere, ie you can get x xxx, or xx x so I don't see why it is a problem to move the space, you can't buy D3 BBY and D3BBY (can you?) so your not showing the wrong number.

I agree that altering the font, or the width between letters is wrong , but I'm talking about the actual "space".

 

[Stuart Truman]

I'm not worried about personalised plates. The one on IMmie came with her and has Z4 on the plate so I'll probably do as the previous owner did and leave it on the car when it comes time to change again.

 

[cj10jeeper]

So you've got a plate, say, D3 BBY, in standard font and spacing.

Keeping the same font, why not have D3BBY?

Or D3B BY

You can have the space anywhere, ie you can get x xxx, or xx x so I don't see why it is a problem to move the space, you can't buy D3 BBY and D3BBY (can you?) so your not showing the wrong number.

I agree that altering the font, or the width between letters is wrong , but I'm talking about the actual "space".

To pick up on that point it has been extensively shown that the public can remember parts of number plates better with spacing and breaking the plate into groups. It's the same reason we group phone numbers and credit card numbers.

That might be enough for a witness to recall part of the plate and assist in identification when added to colour, model, etc.

So even if you could discount that, it's the same issue of having to spend money fixing something that's not broken for the sake of a few who wish to somehow disguise or alter their plate.

 

[Anonymous]

So you've got a plate, say, D3 BBY, in standard font and spacing.

Keeping the same font, why not have D3BBY?

Or D3B BY

You can have the space anywhere, ie you can get x xxx, or xx x so I don't see why it is a problem to move the space, you can't buy D3 BBY and D3BBY (can you?) so your not showing the wrong number.

I agree that altering the font, or the width between letters is wrong , but I'm talking about the actual "space".

To pick up on that point it has been extensively shown that the public can remember parts of number plates better with spacing and breaking the plate into groups. It's the same reason we group phone numbers and credit card numbers.

That might be enough for a witness to recall part of the plate and assist in identification when added to colour, model, etc.

So even if you could discount that, it's the same issue of having to spend money fixing something that's not broken for the sake of a few who wish to somehow disguise or alter their plate.

Actually, that makes total sense to me, and is a reason I could live with.

I know when I give someone my mobile number and they repeat it to me in different blocks of numbers, it confuses me!

 

[Anonymous]

I've always thought personalised number plates are a ridiculous exercise in vanity but I know I'm in a small minority of people who feel that way.

The fact that people will actually spend £'000's on them as well I find even more ridiculous. The first thing that I think when I see a personalised plate is "they're trying to disguise how old their car is". In any case if you use an app like MyCarCheck you can enter someone's reg no and find out exactly how old it is.

I'm in the camp that like them, mines my initials followed by a very low number, and also I'm not trying to hide the age of my car.

I spent a few £k on it but what does that matter? you purchase what you can afford and I think they (dateless plates) look good

Also have one on my Fiesta

 

[Quadracer]

I've always thought personalised number plates are a ridiculous exercise in vanity but I know I'm in a small minority of people who feel that way.

The fact that people will actually spend £'000's on them as well I find even more ridiculous. The first thing that I think when I see a personalised plate is "they're trying to disguise how old their car is". In any case if you use an app like MyCarCheck you can enter someone's reg no and find out exactly how old it is.

Irregular spacing is illegal because it would lead to people deliberately trying to disguise the true registration. Not every scenario where a crime had been committed will have an ANPR system in use. Often it will be a member of the general public noting the registration number down having witnessed a crime. If you do it you should get 3 points and a fixed penalty.

Mine was £1,000 and I can spend my money on what I want. I don't drink. Some people drink and have nothing to show for it. I'll always have my plate. My car is a few weeks old but I'm not bothered about showing everyone it's new.

Further more buying a Z4 is also ridiculous exercise in vanity, totally impractical, is not economical but I love it and it was my money.

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

Mine was £1,000 and I can spend my money on what I want. I don't drink. Some people drink and have nothing to show for it. I'll always have my plate. My car is a few weeks old but I'm not bothered about showing everyone it's new.

Further more buying a Z4 is also ridiculous exercise in vanity, totally impractical, is not economical but I love it and it was my money.

Well said

 

[original guvnor]

I've always thought personalised number plates are a ridiculous exercise in vanity but I know I'm in a small minority of people who feel that way.

The fact that people will actually spend £'000's on them as well I find even more ridiculous. The first thing that I think when I see a personalised plate is "they're trying to disguise how old their car is". In any case if you use an app like MyCarCheck you can enter someone's reg no and find out exactly how old it is.

Irregular spacing is illegal because it would lead to people deliberately trying to disguise the true registration. Not every scenario where a crime had been committed will have an ANPR system in use. Often it will be a member of the general public noting the registration number down having witnessed a crime. If you do it you should get 3 points and a fixed penalty.

Mine was £1,000 and I can spend my money on what I want. I don't drink. Some people drink and have nothing to show for it. I'll always have my plate. My car is a few weeks old but I'm not bothered about showing everyone it's new.

Further more buying a Z4 is also ridiculous exercise in vanity, totally impractical, is not economical but I love it and it was my money.

To be fair I did right at the start of my post say that mine was a minority view. It wouldn't do if we all felt the same way. After all it's a free country and you can spend your cash however you wish.

 

[Liam-O]

Mine cost £255 and was just initials so no need to change the spacing. This one was cheap just until I can afford the one I really want which is £15000.

 

[Quadracer]

I've always thought personalised number plates are a ridiculous exercise in vanity but I know I'm in a small minority of people who feel that way.

The fact that people will actually spend £'000's on them as well I find even more ridiculous. The first thing that I think when I see a personalised plate is "they're trying to disguise how old their car is". In any case if you use an app like MyCarCheck you can enter someone's reg no and find out exactly how old it is.

Irregular spacing is illegal because it would lead to people deliberately trying to disguise the true registration. Not every scenario where a crime had been committed will have an ANPR system in use. Often it will be a member of the general public noting the registration number down having witnessed a crime. If you do it you should get 3 points and a fixed penalty.

Mine was £1,000 and I can spend my money on what I want. I don't drink. Some people drink and have nothing to show for it. I'll always have my plate. My car is a few weeks old but I'm not bothered about showing everyone it's new.

Further more buying a Z4 is also ridiculous exercise in vanity, totally impractical, is not economical but I love it and it was my money.

To be fair I did right at the start of my post say that mine was a minority view. It wouldn't do if we all felt the same way. After all it's a free country and you can spend your cash however you wish.

To be fair you did, but you got my back up for saying that because I space a number plate incorrectly I'm going baffle witnesses when I commit crimes making me out to be some sort of villain. The authorities would be better to change the cameras to some that watched for people on mobile phones and giving them a prison sentence for endangering other road users

 

[original guvnor]

No you misunderstand, you are making it harder for the general public to correctly identify your registration number in the event that they need to. For example, imagine if you are car-jacked and someone on the pavement witnesses it and phones 999 and mistakenly relays the registration number because you've changed the spacing to make numbers look like letters? The law is there for a reason. If you disobey it you can't complain about being punished.

 

[PerryGunn]

Perhaps a way forward would be to say that anyone who commits an offence that is caught by ANPR, and has to have their plate forwarded to human interpreters because it can't be read by the system, then, if it turns out that illegal spacing or font is the reason that it can't be read, they should have that plate withdrawn by the DVLA - perhaps that would keep the 'changes' down to something that the system can cope with

 

[lux]

10 cars out of 16 at the last midland meet had private plates!