A Conservative MP has launched an attempt to open up the market for personalised car number plates.
James Duddridge presented a 10 minute rule bill in the Commons on Wednesday, calling on the government to relax the rules governing abbreviations on registration marks.
At present restrictions prevent certain combinations, and prevent plates that spell out words using only letters.
Speaking ahead of the debate, the Rochford and Southend East MP told ePolitix.com: "I'm an MP for an Essex constituency where there's quite a few personalised registration plates.
"Speaking to the police there are issues of number plate recognition and I thought it was ironic that we weren't allowed to have for example ESSEX, but you were allowed E55EX, and surely using the proper words such as JAMES or ESSEX makes it more memorable and easier to recognise."
The MP said that the sale of personalised plates made more than £86m for the DVLA in 2007/2008, and believes further deregulation could raise millions more.
"I would expect this to raise potentially well in excess of £100m in the first year," he said.
"It will raise money, it’s deregulatory and there aren't that many things in life you can do that everyone is in agreement on, raises money and doesn't cause too many problems."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
James
11th Apr 2011 at 12:44 am