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Innocent drivers caught in VicRoads numberplate bungle

Motorists are clocking up fines and serious offences with stolen personalised numberplates.

Innocent motorists whose personalised numberplates have been stolen are copping speeding fines, toll penalties and accused of serious crimes in a VicRoads policy bungle.

Police fear there are thousands of unaccounted plates across Victoria because VicRoads continues to reissue them despite being told of the theft.

According to police, offenders using stolen numberplates avoid being identified while committing serious crimes, such as petrol thefts, drug trafficking and burglary.

Force command has hit out at VicRoads for allowing the process to happen and wants it reined in.

Despite the identity fraud, motorists have to go through their own appeal process to be cleared of any wrongdoing.

Crime Statistics Agency figures reveal 4936 numberplates were stolen in 2014 — up from 4800 the year before.

VicRoads could not answer the Herald Sun's questions how many unaccounted plates there were in Victoria and said personalised plates were reissued because the owner "paid a premium price" for the combination.

Crime Statistics Agency figures reveal 4936 numberplates were stolen in 2014 — up from 4800 the year before.

VicRoads registration and licensing director David Shelton said when general issue numberplates were stolen, the customer was issued a new numberplate combination.

"In the case of custom plates, the person retains the registration number rights to the number combination and has paid a premium price for the number combination," he said. "There is no limit to how many times replacement custom plates can be reissued." Victoria Police highlighted the problem in its submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Fuel Drive-Offs.

"It is highly likely that theft of numberplates is used as a form of identity fraud and to gain a financial advantage," it said.

"It is the opinion of Victoria Police that VicRoads procedures may need to be assessed and tightened with thousands of unaccounted numberplates within the community."

Mr Shelton said disputes regarding responsibility and liability for a fine were managed by Civic Compliance Victoria.

"Fines are sent to the current or last registered operator of a vehicle to which the numberplates were assigned," he said.

He said VicRoads would continue to work with Victoria Police to improve procedures.

Does this issue make you less likely to purchase personalised numberplates? Let us know in the comments below.