Police warn buyers on cheaper fake licence plates

A selection of fake plates seized by Auckland police. The plates are usually bought from overseas websites and can incur a fine and demerit points.

Novelty licence plates might seem like the perfect Christmas gift - but buyers beware, they are most likely illegal and can attract fines and demerit points.

A recent increase in the number of fake licence plates being seized by police has prompted a pre-Christmas warning about the consequences of being caught.

People purchasing black plates, and plates personalised with images are among some taken by police recently.

They can be purchased on websites and allow owners a cheap way to make their plates stand out.

Auckland's motorway police say they have been seizing at least one set of fake plates each week. In Mission Bay, nine sets were taken off cars in one day this month.

"The only number plates that drivers can have on their cars are plates that have been issued by NZTA or Personalised Plates Ltd," Waitemata road policing manager Inspector Trevor Beggs said.

"This is to stop criminals from masking stolen cars or cars that have been used to commit crimes with a fake plate. A licence plate is considered to be an official document issued by the government to identify a car, just like a driver's licence identifies a driver."

Plates that are issued by NZTA and Personalised Plates have black-embossed characters against a white reflective background, they are made with a silver fern security feature in the sheeting. The fern is created during the manufacture of the reflective sheeting and can be seen by the eye if you turn the plate to a 30 degree angle.

"We're seeing an increasing number of people who have gone online and ordered plates from overseas websites that match their New Zealand plate, but are actually considered to be illegal here."

Displaying a plate that hasn't been legally issued can result in a $100 fine, 25 demerit points and confiscation of the plates.

Many people stopped by police with fake plates purchased them from a website or had them made by a signwriter. The website costs about $40 per plate.

"Many people who are pulled over by police who have a 'facsimile' plate don't realise that they shouldn't have it on their car," said Mr Beggs.