License plate theft: a childish scam that is a nightmare for motorists

The “doublet” scam puts victims in difficulty, who see offenses that they did not commit being blamed on them. Illustration MAXPPP – Sebastien JARRY

While the so-called "doublette" is increasing in France, a bill has just been tabled to better regulate the manufacture of license plates.

"I thought you needed a registration document to redo your plates, I don't understand how that's possible", asks Jérémy. There is no longer any doubt, someone has stolen his registration plates. This is the fourth time that this Gardois has received a fine for an offense that he did not commit. And for good reason, obtaining number plates without presenting vehicle papers is child's play, says Pierre Chasseray, president of the 40 million motorists association.

For him, better supervision is an emergency: with more than 20,000 cases recorded in 2023, "we need to put a tourniquet on the hemorrhage". It is in this sense that his association is supporting, alongside Loire-Atlantique MP Luc Geismar, the proposed law aimed at better regulating the manufacture of license plates. Because on the internet for example, in a few clicks, it is possible to have compliant plates made, without having to present any identity document of either the vehicle or the buyer.

Multiple offenses

The scam, commonly called "doublet", can harm on different levels. From a simple parking ticket, to speeding, including hit and run or theft. "The small Parisian station that I often go to has recently implemented a systematic prepayment system. When I asked why, I was told that people were leaving after having filled up, without paying, despite the cameras, thanks to fake plates", says Yves Carra. For the spokesperson for Mobilité club France, this anecdote perfectly illustrates the extent of the possibilities available to usurpers.

"It’s a blessing, because you only need to change the plate when refueling. And this scam has a bright future ahead of it, since cars cost more, fuel costs more…"

Carole, who lives in La Grande-Motte, received a parking fine in the Paris region in January."I haven’t set foot there for 25 years", explains the Héraultaise, who reported the error, d’ initially attributed to a poor reading of the plate by the agent at the time of the fine. "But three weeks later, a new report arrived, then I went to file a complaint". On the report, she discovers that the vehicle which bears the same plates as hers is also a Dacia. This surprises her. "I only have the brand indicated, not the model, nor the color, but I would be surprised if it was the same, since my car is sand color, that&rsquo ;is quite rare", explains Carole.

The victim must take all the steps

If she doesn't know if she was the victim of a so-called "perfect" – plates and perfectly identical model —, she however decided that she would have her plates changed, if new fines were to arrive. Jérémy was able to easily prove that he was not the author of the offenses, since the vehicle photographed by the radar had "nothing to do with my car". "In this case, it’s easy for the police to check. So they canceled my ticket and it didn’t go any further. But I am asked to change the plates. I feel that it is not up to me to do it", this Gardois annoys.

What to do if you are a victim of theft ?

You must not pay the fine received and go to the gendarmerie or police station. "It is important to contest without recording the money", recalls Pierre Chasseray. You can file a complaint for identity theft.

It will then be about "proving one's good faith", explains Yves Carra. Its association supports motorists who are victims in particular in the procedures. "We must gather as much evidence as possible to prove that we are not the author of the offense. For example, a certificate from your employer if you were at work when the offense was committed.

It seems absurd to have to prove one's innocence when one is oneself a victim, but Yves Carra points out that if the scam is very common, it only concerns ” ; approximately 20,000 people out of 40,000,000 motorists and that in the opposite direction, "a road offender could, for example, want to make people believe that he was usurped to avoid going to court.

If the tickets continue to arrive, it is advisable to change your license plates. In the prefecture, in the case of theft of registration plates, the procedure to redo the registration document will be free. There will remain the repair of the plates, the responsibility of the motorist.

The vast majority of thefts are so-called "imperfect" duplicates, that is to say that the model of the car does not match the plates and are "easy" to denounce. But a perfect doublet, while rarer, is also much more difficult to intercept. In 2015, the Kouachi brothers created a perfect doublet by usurping the license plate and model of the vehicle of a Lyonnaise woman, who had been summoned by the police on the evening of the Charlie Hebdo killings. If she had quickly been exonerated, this event gives a glimpse of how far the extent of the acts committed could go.

And for criminals, nothing is easier than finding plates to steal, since the internet is full of photos of existing cars and those in circulation. "The good corner is very popular for example", underlines Yves Carra. To protect yourself from this scam, while waiting for better legal framework, there is only one recommendation: never post a photo of your car on a site or social network if the plates are visible.

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