Ghost plates are intentionally designed to be invisible to ANPR cameras. That makes it difficult to catch riders and drivers breaking safety rules. Consultation on making the use of non-compliant plates an endorsable offence is already underway. If this is approved, instead of a simple £100 fine for using illegal plates, riders could face 3 penalty points on their license too.

The DVLA is also gaining powers to strictly audit plate suppliers and make sure all number plates meet the BS AU 145e standard. This standard requires plates to be made of a single shade of black without 3D/4D effects and free of any coatings that interfere with camera systems.