Intelligent number plates for Gauteng
In truth, once the benefits of the iNP have been analysed, the answer is yes. If that’s the case, what are the benefits and what is iNP anyway?
iNP is the creation of high integrity vehicle identification involving the introduction of a resilient aluminium vehicle number plate, supported by a process to securely distribute and issue these plates. This, in turn, is supported by processes and methods for effective law enforcement and transparent auditing of the entire system. The new number plates will introduce, for the first time, an RFID-enabled tag which is central to the new system and process flow.
RFID, or radio frequency identification, is an intelligent tag which contains a chip holding vital information, usually in the form of a unique identifying number or code, protected by an encryption application for integrity. This is not the tag of science fiction movies, which contains personal information and owner’s DNA profile, but rather an ingenious use of technology that many aren’t aware is already deeply entrenched in our lives, posing no risk to individuals.
To backtrack somewhat, before it can be argued that SA’s roads need millions of such tags attached to our vehicles, it’s necessary to understand what risks the current number plate system poses to citizens. The use of number plates to identify vehicles has been a requirement for more than 100 years and currently is the only means of identifying a moving vehicle. Only once a vehicle is stopped can law enforcers determine through checking the licence disc and the vehicle identification number if the plates belong to the vehicle. There is however no reliable means of determining solely from the face of a number plate if it was legitimately issued.
The increasing use of cameras to detect criminal activity involving vehicles uses only the number plate to provide identification for apprehension and prosecution of offenders. The ease with which number plates can currently be obtained facilitates the use of false plates and licence discs to export stolen vehicles or to disguise vehicles used in crimes. Furthermore, duplicated plates can be used to operate a number of vehicles on one licence or deliberate faults on number plates e.g. reversal of order of characters can be used to disguise a vehicle’s true identity.
Besides the deliberate disguising of vehicles, the use of cameras for the automatic detection of offences and their potential use for border control are hindered by the poor quality of many number plates. Examples include the use of inferior and illegal materials, cracked or delaminated plastic plates, faded metal plates, deliberate use of materials and illegible fonts to affect the quality of images and the obscuring of plates by tow bars. The most important factor to consider here is that the issuing of number plates is not regulated in any manner at all, including a solid record of which issuer produced specific plates. The bottom line being that an issuer can produce false plates, and there will be no record at all to prove this.
The relentless introduction of vehicles to our roads, has led to the burgeoning industry of number plate issuers, and with no regulation it’s not hard to see how easy it is for a legitimate number plate to be duplicated and used illegally. This leads to considerable risk for innocent vehicle owners that could find themselves receiving traffic fines for offences they didn’t commit, or being investigated for criminal activity when a number plate has been identified in the use of a crime.
This influx of vehicles also translates to an inordinate amount of time spent in traffic, frustration and road rage when traffic is not effectively regulated as well as an annual fuel bill of a whopping R180-billion. If a system can be introduced that will reduce time spent on our roads by a mere 5%, this will translate to a saving for the consumer of R9-billion. And that’s only one benefit – what if the same system in turn created over 3 000 jobs, spared the trauma of experiencing vehicle identity theft and even regulated corrupt law enforcement officials that habitually accept bribes?
The key component of the new system is the RFID-enabled tag, but this will be supported with other physical changes to the current plate system which will contribute the whole success of the programme. The tag itself contains a unique identifying number, referred to as the unique identity number. The number plate will now also include manufacturer’s details, a unique serial number, an embossed 2D barcode matching the tag’s unique number, expiry date and validation label. The aluminium material on its own has the benefit of virtual indestructibility in the case of fire or explosion. It has been tested in a variety of controlled experiments that would make even seasoned pyromaniacs breathless.
Without embarking on a lengthy description of the technical aspects of the system, it only takes scratching the surface to begin to understand the vast benefits the new tag brings to regulation and law enforcement on our roads. Number plate issuers will no longer be able to operate with invisibility and impunity, and will be held liable for transgressions whether intended or not. Law enforcement officers will now have a tool for immediate identification of transgressions, but will also be regulated in terms of measurement of performance.
Mischievous citizens too, will now be monitored more stringently and in the case of certain drivers, may find themselves undergoing necessary driver education that they might have missed the first time. On the subject of mischievous citizens, the effectiveness of the new number plates are unaffected by mud splatters, carefully applied foil or spray paint but at the same time contain no personal details that can contravene privacy laws and put the citizen at risk.
Considering all of this, it will be advisable for citizens to pay close attention to the roll-out of the new system and keep abreast of the flow of the information that will separately highlight the different facets of the system.
Intelligent number plates << comments and views
Loading ...