Fake car plates a real concern
Friday July 24 2009
I agree entirely with what Mark J Towers says about the easy availability of number plates (Letters, July 21).
Only a couple of weeks ago, I was in a motor factors and a customer was getting some made. He was surprised at how easy it was, and lamented the fact that he "could be anyone giving any false number" in his conversation with the store owner.
Mr Towers is correct in suggesting that evidence of ownership of the vehicle for which the new plates are sought should be provided.
In the vast majority of cases, a new registration plate is either an import issue (VRT) or an NCT requirement, so for the most part it could be processed through the existing systems.
Vehicle identity theft aids crime, and the 'walk in and buy it' system of getting new number plates needs to be tightened up.
A stolen vehicle fitted with false plates and assuming the identity of an identical 'written off' vehicle (chassis plates being switched over in the more professional 'cloning' cases) will likely come up clean if anyone reports it in relation to criminal activity, and/or the gardai check it through their records.
Indeed, easy availability of new number plates also assists some unscrupulous car dealers who sell dodgy vehicles.
A friend of mine bought a second-hand 4x4 which turned out to have been fitted with the wrong registration plates by the so-called 'garage'. It turned out that the vendor had an office full of number plates and apparently put the wrong ones on.
Soon afterwards, the engine packed in, unlikely to have done the "only 80,000km from new" which was claimed by the vendor.
All things considered, it looked more like it had done twice that mileage and that, in reality, whatever vehicle it was imitating was written off in its prime.
As the vendor was not the type of chap one would invite to one's birthday party, my friend took the loss. He is one of many.
We now have this Criminal Justice Bill, and much political hoopla about organised crime. At the same time, anyone can hand over €15 and, after a five-minute wait, walk out of any motor store with number plates bearing any county or number they choose -- real or not.
If the fight against crime is to be serious, these "little" details matter too.
Like rural garda stations, the infrastructure is already there, but lying idle.
Anthony Halpin
Bray, Co Wicklow
