Beat The Camera | Avoid Speed camera Detection - Spray Makes Licence Plate INVISIBLE

Sunday September 15 2003

A SPRAY said to make registration plates invisible to speed cameras is on sale to Scotland’s drivers for just £20 — and it’s legal.

The controversial Photoblocker is an aerosol made in America by a company called Phantomplate. They say it reflects the flash from traffic cameras, making number plates unreadable.

It became a big seller in the USA when a TV news report claimed to prove it really worked.
Now it’s available in Britain and Europe and BeatTheCamera.com aims to have it on the shelves of independent car accessory shops soon.

Disclaimer
The website says there is enough spray for six applications, which should each last two years. The site also claims the product is only for sensible drivers tired of being punished for driving slightly over the speed limit.

A disclaimer says they do not condone speeding. But the spray is obviously open to misuse and several US states have introduced laws banning its use.

Kevin Delaney, the RAC’s Traffic and Road Safety Manager and a former policeman, said, “It doesn’t contravene any regulation in place at the moment.

“It’s an offence to obstruct a police officer in the course of duty but there’s no offence of attempting to obstruct a piece of police equipment like a speed camera.

“A Procurator Fiscal may try to argue that someone using this spray was attempting to pervert the course of justice or, if it becomes a big problem, the Government may ban it but there’s nothing at the moment.

Doubts
An AA spokesman agreed, saying, “We obviously urge people not to break speed restrictions.
However, the only time a driver is likely to be pulled up for a fault with the plate is during an MoT. Or if there’s something noticeably masking the plate then the police may pull a driver over and ask him to rectify it.”

Scotland’s Safety Camera Programme is a partnership of local authorities, police, road safety networks and the NHS to operate and site speed cameras. Spokesman Andrew Wilkie said, “We are aware of the claims for the product but the speed cameras exist to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“We would condemn anything that seeks to affect our attempts to reduce casualties.”
The company’s website says, “The amazing Photoblocker has been proven in independent tests by Fox News and Denver Police Department to beat photo radar and red traffic light cameras.

“Simply spray it over your license plate and make it instantly invisible to cameras.”
It also claims that, “The spray works on any licence plate worldwide and is invisible to the naked eye — the only person who will know it’s on the vehicle is the owner”.

A 30-day money back guarantee is offered to unsatisfied customers.