🟩 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐟𝐋, 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫…𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

New Taxi Leaks has been informed that compliance officers are out there, working alongside Met Police officers, checking vehicles for unauthorised 4D number plates. 

We’ve been informed that the issue is with where drivers acquired the registration plates i.e. Halfords or other reputable dealers and if they conform to regulation (must be solid black).

There are fakes, widely available that do not conform with DVLA and TfL guidelines which (allegedly) cannot be read by ANPR cameras. 

This statement came from the LCDC's Mark White:

“Cab enforcement explained to us at Heathrow that the cab may well pass at NSL or MOT test stations (the issue is that they do not show up on ANPR Cameras) and drivers should only get plates from reputable dealers eg Halfords as there are lots of fakes around”.

At present, police only seem to be concerned with reflective ones and have a small hand ANPR camera to check. 

Because of the amount of drivers nationally who have some form of plate that can’t be read, new legislation is being considered to ban all 3D and 4D number plates. 

So if you have plates that you acquired from an un-reputable source which do not conform, you are in danger of having a stop put on you’ve vehicle and a fine issued. 

Stangly enough at present, TfL are only concentrating on Licensed Taxis and at present don’t appear to have plans to extend this action to PH (minicab) vehicles…..there’s a surprise. 

𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓: 

We asked National Numbers UK the question, "are 4D number plates legal in the UK and in the eyes of the DVLA?"

Their answer answer is "yes, but only if these 4D number plates meet the standards in place for other registrations by the DVLA and that is, they must be able to be read by ANPR cameras and the numbers must be solid black".

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯.𝐔𝐤 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞:

Rules for number plates

The number plates on your vehicle must:

* be made from a reflective material

* display black characters on a white background (front plate)

* display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate

* not have a background pattern

* be marked to show who supplied the number plate

* be marked with a British Standard number - this is�'BS AU 145e' for plates fitted after 1 September 2021

The characters must not be removable or reflective.

If your number plates were fitted after 1 September 2021, they must also be a single shade of black.

Your number plates can also:

* have 3D (raised) characters

* display certain flags, symbols and identifiers

* display a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle

HOW ARE 4D NUMBER PLATES DIFFERENT FROM 3D PLATES?

The difference between the two is that 3D plates are made with a gel polyurethane resin. The gel is applied to the characters to make them appear glossy. Whereas, 4D number plates are made of acrylic that is cut and shaped with a laser, giving it the raised appearance that people like it for.