What is the difference in penalties between cloned license plates and fake license plates?
2 Answers
According to traffic regulations, vehicle owners confirmed to be using cloned license plates face severe penalties including fines, 15 days of detention, and a 12-point deduction. For those unfortunate enough to have their plates cloned, they can go through a series of procedures at the Ministry of Public Security to revoke the penalties during that period and apply for a new license plate number. Methods to distinguish cloned license plates are as follows: 1. Observe the appearance of the license plate: Genuine license plates undergo high-quality processing and use one-time molding technology during the stamping process. Fake "cloned" plates may have correct numbers on the surface, but under sunlight, the color may appear reddish or yellowish. Genuine license plates feature uniquely designed fonts with intellectual property rights, while cloned plates often have thinner fonts. Consumers should carefully observe these characteristics before purchasing. 2. Touch the edges of the license plate: Since they are not one-time molded, the edges of the characters on cloned plates will have ridges, and even if polished, traces are hard to conceal. Removing the plate, its backside will also show signs of hammering, which may be hard to see but can be felt by touch. 3. Replace the license plate: In the used car market, some unscrupulous dealers prefer to sell used car plates and include polished "cloned" plates with the vehicle for profit. Given this situation, one can choose to re-register the used car, which not only allows for a more desirable plate number but also provides an opportunity to verify if the vehicle has a cloned plate. 4. Verification by relevant authorities: If interested in a used car, note the license plate number and check the vehicle registration records online through relevant management departments. You can access dozens of details such as the vehicle owner, registration authority, registration date, vehicle type, and engine number. If the information is retrievable, the vehicle is likely genuine. If not, or if the information is incomplete, there may be an issue, and consumers should be cautious.
I'm a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, and I've actually seen people encounter this issue. Cloning license plates means using another vehicle's genuine plate number on your own car. If caught, the penalty starts at 2,000 yuan fine, 12 demerit points, and you might even spend a few days in jail. Fake plates are even more serious—they're completely fabricated plates. Once caught, the fine can go up to 5,000 yuan, all your points will be deducted, your license will be revoked, and you may face criminal charges. Because fake plates directly disrupt social order, the police crack down harder on them, and your car might even be confiscated. Always be careful when driving, don't cut corners with license plates, and check your plate number during annual inspections to avoid being wrongly implicated. If someone flees an accident using a cloned plate, it's hard for victims to seek justice, so strict legal penalties are necessary. In short, cloning plates carries lighter penalties, mainly targeting the violator, while fake plates carry heavier penalties involving forgery charges. Everyone should steer clear of these shady practices—safety first.
