ANPR notification on spacing

[Juniper86]

Hi there,

I'm new here but just looking for any info anyone had on a letter I received from the DVLA. I have a private plate which I have owned for 30 years. The spacing on one of the characters is half an inch the wrong way and I have today received a letter from the DVLA advising me that I need to amend it and send proof or my plate may be withdrawn. Just curious as I have had the plate like this for over 10 years and during this time I received fixed penalties for speeding and it has never been picked up before. Is this a new initiative that the cameras are now picking up?

And yes I know I should just change it and get on with it but I am just curious as to why this has happened now!

[Unreal]

Juniper86 said:

Hi there,

I'm new here but just looking for any info anyone had on a letter I received from the DVLA. I have a private plate which I have owned for 30 years. The spacing on one of the characters is half an inch the wrong way and I have today received a letter from the DVLA advising me that I need to amend it and send proof or my plate may be withdrawn. Just curious as I have had the plate like this for over 10 years and during this time I received fixed penalties for speeding and it has never been picked up before. Is this a new initiative that the cameras are now picking up?

And yes I know I should just change it and get on with it but I am just curious as to why this has happened now!

Nothing new. Maybe you've just been lucky but your card is marked now.

[vaud]

Regulatory Updates (2025)

In April 2025, the DVLA clarified rules to crack down on non-compliant plate styles, including font type, reflectivity, 3D/4D plate standards, spacing, and banned decorative elements

(Internet 3rd party so may not be right)

[Collectingbrass]

Half an inch? Which one of your neighbours have you pissed off?

[Cylon2007]

You've got away with it fgor 30 years, just get legally spaced plates fitted and get on with your life.

[otolith]

It's very important that registration plates are compliant with standards, because otherwise ANPR systems won't be able to read them. This is being enforced using (checks notes) ANPR systems

[macron]

TBF this is fking brilliant news!

Plate sellers near Land Rover dealers will be rolling in it.

[supacool1]

macron said:

TBF this is fking brilliant news!

Plate sellers near Land Rover dealers will be rolling in it.

[Durzel]

Why is it half an inch the wrong way?

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Mis-spaced plates can get in the sea so glad to hear they're being cracked down on. Bradford inhabitants, RR and VW T5 drivers are going to be knackered...

[Riley Blue]

Appropriate first-step enforcement, a letter of advice rather than an instant fine of up to a grand. Your choice whether to follow it or not.

[silentbrown]

otolith said:

It's very important that registration plates are compliant with standards, because otherwise ANPR systems won't be able to read them. This is being enforced using (checks notes) ANPR systems

Or, possibly, the ANPR system flags up a 'failed read' and passes it to (shock, horror) a human to deal with?

[Alex_225]

There is a slight irony you're getting told off for a mis-spaced number plate because they are cracking down on them in case ANPR cameras may not be able to read them.

When I'm assuming it was an ANPR camera that has spotted the spacing and in turn they've found the owner and sent you a letter.

[T_S_M]

From a technical point of view, I don't see how mis-spaced plates are an issue for cameras to pick up? Surely it just reads the characters, and providing the characters haven't been messed with then its the same irrelevant of where they are?

'AB12 CDE' are the same characters, in the same order, as 'AB 12CDE' or 'AB12CD E'?

Not saying I'm a fan of them

[Peterpetrole]

Collectingbrass said:

Half an inch? Which one of your neighbours have you pissed off?

Suspect an understatement

[vaud]

Per my post, it seems the DVLA approach changed in April.

No issue with private plates personally but the massively mis spaced 4d BOSS plates can F right off.

[Juniper86]

Thanks everyone, as I said more than happy to change it, just wondered why an ANPR had picked it up as being as issue after all these years and all the many ANPR's I've probably driven past

And yes it is just half an inch. I was conscious when I had them made that I didn't want it to be too ridiculous. I have an older style plate with a letter, two numbers and then three letters. My second number is just in the middle of the two sets, by just half an inch

Anyway, thanks for all the input. New plates are now on the car and proof sent to DVLA

[Krikkit]

T_S_M said:

From a technical point of view, I don't see how mis-spaced plates are an issue for cameras to pick up? Surely it just reads the characters, and providing the characters haven't been messed with then its the same irrelevant of where they are?

'AB12 CDE' are the same characters, in the same order, as 'AB 12CDE' or 'AB12CD E'?

Not saying I'm a fan of them

I doubt they're an issue, if anything it's easier to spot the irregular alignment because the plate formats should follow very strict and easily-measured guidelines.

Juniper86 said:

Thanks everyone, as I said more than happy to change it, just wondered why an ANPR had picked it up as being as issue after all these years and all the many ANPR's I've probably driven past

vaud said:

Regulatory Updates (2025)

In April 2025, the DVLA clarified rules to crack down on non-compliant plate styles, including font type, reflectivity, 3D/4D plate standards, spacing, and banned decorative elements

Ta da! The answer is they've started cracking down on idiocy.

[Juniper86]

Krikkit said:

Ta da! The answer is they've started cracking down on idiocy.

Yes I read that earlier, thanks for the input

[Inbox]

What the OP doesn't know yet is there is a letter in the post because his hands weren't on the steering wheel at 10-2.

Only a matter of time...