ANPR in petrol stations - can't read plates?

[edc]

Filled up at a BP garage late last night and happened to see the screen. My reg plate was incomplete but all other cars on the forecourt had their number on the screen.

Now since I purchased the car second hand a few years back a few ppl have observed that at night and with lights shining on the front plate there looks to be some 'smear' marks over some of the letter/numbers. These conveniently obscured part of the plate.

The number plate was clean. What's the reason for this? Has somebody previously sprayed something onto the plate (I always sceptically thought these didn't work)??

[edc]

Any takers?

Why is my plate partly 'invisible'?

Still images from GATSOs or CCTV should be able to read it as any normal camera can. Why can't the station's ANPR (or whatever system it uses)?

[jacobyte]

If you invert and adjust the colouring, etc with software you can actually read it.

[Robbo SPS]

ANPR sometimes doesnt read plates for various resons, hence the manual inputters.

I would pressume its related to sun-light / polish / wax on the plates. Some are meant to put a shine , like a mirror on the plates

[cptsideways]

Would'nt be a VW van by any chance ?

[edc]

No, I paid It was our Ibiza.