are IR numberplate blockers legal?

Question

Would a downwards facing IR light over the numberplate such as http://www.sunflexzone.com or a similar DIY product be illegal in the UK? I know that they should technically be illegal but is there actually any precedent as it surely just qualifies as numberplate lighting?

Answer 1

1) Anything that obstructs the clear reading of a numberplate is illegal, including lighting that claims to "wash out" the numbers.

2) The vehicle numberplate light must conform to the Road Vehicles Construction and Use regulations which apply throughout the EU and UK.

3) Road vehicle numberplates must be manufactured to the correct BS standards by approved and licensed manufacturers to prevent non-reflective,"obscured", or incorrect font plates being fitted.

4) You would be stopped by the first police car that followed you because they have ANPR cameras and will immediately see that you have a device which is trying to obscure the numbers.

5) It will fail an MOT because the numberplate light is incorrect.

6) These light things don't work anyway to prevent ANPR camers reading the numberplate.



So you will be spending a lot of money and effort on a useless device which will get you fined, gain points and probably have your car impounded on the spot as "unroadworthy" untill you replace the lights.



You must never assume that American law-dodging products are useful or legal or even work at all.

Answer 2

As UK law requires you to display a number plate, anything that obstructs that plate could be considered an obstructed plate, subject to a fine.



I tried searching the UK's legislation site for specifics, but was somewhat confused by the search requirements. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/



Number plate lighting is specified by each nation as to what sort of lights and where they should be positioned. Those rules would be part of the safety inspection for a car. As an infrared light does not actually illuminate a plate in the visible spectrum, it would unlikely qualify as a licence plate light.

Answer 3

Yes and they do not work. They just give you another item to be charged with. All lighting has to be E approved. MOT fail as well.