Colorado Bans Letter From License Plates Due to Automated Reader Errors

The state of Colorado has altered its license plate issuance policy after automated readers repeatedly confused the letter O and the number 0, leading to incorrect tickets, toll bills, and traffic stops. The issue arose from the state’s four-letter, two-number format, introduced in 2018, which placed letters and numbers on the same side of the plate, making it difficult for automated systems to distinguish between the letter O and the number 0. As a result, drivers received mistaken speeding tickets, toll charges, and parking citations. To address the problem, Colorado officials have stopped issuing plates with the letter O in the fourth position and tweaked the plate font to better separate the O from the zero. However, this solution may be seen as treating the symptom rather than the cause, as it does not require the automated plate-reading systems to improve their technology. The state’s response acknowledges the limitations of the technology, but for drivers who have spent years disputing incorrect tickets and bills, it may not be enough. The issue highlights the need for more accurate and reliable automated license plate readers to prevent such errors in the future.