ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) is used by the Police to check vehicles which maybe linked to criminal activity – this can include anything from minor offences, up to more serious crimes. Throughout the years Number Plate Recognition has proven extremely useful to the Police across the UK, by highlighting motor offences, catching criminals, locating witnesses, and even helping to find missing persons.
As the vehicle passes the ANPR camera, the car’s registration number is instantly read and double checked against a database of vehicles of interest. Should the database flag up an alert, then the Police officer has a duty to stop the vehicle and to speak to the driver further.
What drivers should be aware of in terms of Number Plate Recognition
For everyday drivers, subjecting yourself to a minor driving offence is not only a waste of yours and Police time, but can also lead to an unnecessary fine. As ANPR can digitally check vehicle plates anywhere whilst Police cars are patrolling, it is important that drivers double check the following to make sure that they are staying on the correct side of UK driving laws and to prevent them being stopped.
- Valid insurance documents – Check that the vehicle has valid insurance and that is in within the correct dates of the policy. Don’t forget that you can renew your policy up to 29 days before the current policy expires.
- Up to date tax – UK tax is now collected via direct debit or one-off payments. Because drivers no longer receive a physical paper disk, it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of the expiry dates. Make sure that your vehicle tax is in date and keep an eye on renewal date and re-curing fees.
- Valid MOT Test certificate – You won’t be able to tax and insurance the vehicle without a MOT test certificate. Here at Stourbridge Automotive we provide vehicle MOT Testing for Audi, BMW, BMW MINI, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover & Range Rover vehicles.
- Correct parking – Whilst you maybe in a rush, parking inappropriately could lead to a hefty fine, therefore drivers should always park in a safe place and out of harm’s way to other road users including pedestrians. Parking on double yellow lines could result in a £70 fine and red lines represent restricted parking at specific times during the day, so it is important to be careful where you park.
Vehicle Assistance with Stourbridge Automotive
We provide support to owner / drivers of Audi, BMW, BMW MINI, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover & Range Rover vehicles, with many aspects of vehicle assistance from MOT Testing to Servicing and Mechanical repairs. For more information, please get in touch with our experienced workshop team for further details.