Simbithi resident’s number plate cloned

Innocent drivers are having to prove that they own their number plates, while someone else is racking up huge fines and e-toll bills with cloned number plates.

A recent investigation estimated that at least one in five number plates in Gauteng are cloned. Previous investigations proved how easy it is to get a number plate, no need to show your ID or vehicle registration. Cloned or fake number plates have always been an issue, but it seems that it is on the rise as motorists try to avoid paying fines and e-tolls.

Simbithi resident Alex Neves was dumbfounded when he received an e-toll bill, showing his registration, but a completely different vehicle.

“I drive a white Land Rover Discovery, but in the photo on the e-toll invoice it shows a dark coloured Mercedes-Benz,” he said.

He phoned the helpline and they confirmed that his plates are registered to a white Land Rover, and not the car in the picture on his bill.

“I asked them why could they not check the vehicle model against the registration number before sending out invoices and their reply was that it was not part of their programme.”

In his case, the other car can be traced, since it is not the same make and model registered to the number plate. It is almost impossible to prove someone cloned your plates when they are using the exact same vehicle make, model and colour that you drive. The only way to deal with fake or cloned number plates is to report it to the police.

Howard Dembovsky from the Justice Project of South Africa said after victims have opened a criminal case, they should also report it to local traffic authorities.

“If you receive fines and e-toll bills you will have to write to the traffic authority why you can not be held liable for the payment,” said Dembovsky.

Neves finds this ridiculous.

“Their system showed it is not my car, yet they still expect me to file an affidavit and fill in more forms to justify my non-payment.”

“Why can Sanral not use an automatic recognition system when photographing vehicles to see if the number plates match with the registered vehicle?” asked Neves, who suggests that traffic authorities can then immediately be notified to try and catch the culprit.