Victoria introducing new tech to combat number-plate cloning

The Victorian Government is set to roll out new number plates with extra security that it claims will reduce the instances of crime and plate theft.

The initiative began on Friday 30 December 2022, with the Government aiming to have 430,000 of the new plates created each year.

The number plates feature Directional Security Markings in the surface of the plate, which the Government says will provide an extra layer of authentication and make it difficult for the plates to be cloned – a problem that VicRoads has worked with Victoria Police and the Department of Justice and Community Safety to find a solution.

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The new plate design seeks to prevent thefts through the use of markings that cannot be removed without damaging the reflective system.

This would help prevent duplication of plates that are fixed to vehicles of similar make and model, which are then used in the act of committing a crime.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said, “We have been working closely with relevant departments on a solution to address number plate theft and it is fantastic that we can now begin delivering this new technology.”

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Number plate theft in Victoria has been a concern, with the RACV reporting in May this year that nearly 15,000 plate thefts were recorded in 2021. The types of crime for which these stolen plates were used ranged from burglaries and drug trafficking through to avoiding tolls and petrol station drive-offs.

The plate markings work in a manner similar to holograms in Australian banknotes, meaning that cloning plates is increasingly difficult.

Minister for Police, Anthony Carbines said, “We know that number-plate theft has been a growing problem in Victoria – these new Directional Security Markings add an additional layer of security that will stop theft and help reduce crime.”