Automatic number plate recognition introduced

Motorists who haven’t paid their car tax could now be caught out by automatic number plate recognition.

It’s being introduced on the Isle of Man by the police and the Department of Infrastructure as a way of reducing the number of untaxed and illegal vehicles on public roads.

Traffic surveys have shown that around three per cent of vehicles driving on the roads and up to six per cent of vehicles parked do not have valid tax.

The new system will scan vehicle registration plates as they drive past.

The information will then be checked against a vehicle database – if no tax has been paid officers will issue reminders and take appropriate enforcement action.