An eagle eyed motorist posted a photo of a police car with a number plate obscured by dirt – on the day police in Ely fined a motorist £100 for the same offence!

Eastern Daily Press: £100 fine for this vehicle in Ely today. The offence? An illegible number plate£100 fine for this vehicle in Ely today. The offence? An illegible number plate (Image: Archant)

'One rule for them, one for us?' questioned the reader who sent in the photo of the Wisbech police just hours after Cambs police released details of the Ely offender.

The Wisbech police car was spotted at the junction of Weasenham Lane and Cromwell Road heading to Tesco.

A police spokesman shown the offending photo of the car in Wisbech agreed it was a fair cop.

'The roads are particularly dirty at the moment due to recent weather and police vehicles should be cleaned after every shift,' he said.

'Officers have been reminded of this to ensure that procedures are followed.'

Earlier police had warned motorists that they are required by law to display their number plates.

'Having number plates obscured by dirt and grime is no different to removing you number plates and driving around without them on display at all,' said a spokesman.

Police in Ely released an image of a car parked on High Street and pointed out it would result 'in a £100 fine or attendance at magistrates court to protest innocence. The offence is having an 'obscure or indistinguishable' registration plate.'

Sgt Phil Priestley said: 'We're all driving round in dirty cars during the winter months - it's virtually impossible to keep them clean - however the standards of being able to read the registration plates is the same all year round.

'It's fair warning to everyone just to check their cars and avoid the possibility of an unpleasant fine'.