The new state sign and plate design. (Credit: Gov. Shapiro’s Office)
A design choice intended to make Pennsylvania license plates more clear is instead creating a headache for automated camera systems.
The state’s newest license plates, which feature the the “Let Freedom Ring” design commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, feature a diagonal slash through the number zero.
While the change was intended to help humans and cameras distinguish the number “0” from the letter “O,” Pittsburgh TV station WPXI 11 reports that Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems are misidentifying the slashed zero as the number “8” at times.
The glitch has triggered incorrect Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll-By-Plate bills, according to the TV station.
According to Across Pennsylvania Patch, the error is not limited to the Turnpike but affects other agencies using ALPR technology, including local traffic and speed cameras.
“Our team is actively working with our ALPR software vendors to refine the system’s ability to accurately recognize the different plate characters,” a spokesperson for the Turnpike said. “This process isn’t an easy fix. Instead, it requires time and continuous analysis to ensure the technology can learn and adapt effectively.”
WPXI aired a story on cases where drivers received bills for vehicles they don’t even own, including a plate ending in “08” being read by cameras as “88.”
The shift to the slashed zero was sparked by a 2020 incident where a Pittsburgh driver was wrongfully booted because a parking officer confused the letter “O” with the number “0” on a personalized plate.
Traffic (Credit: File photo/LevittownNow)Following that incident, WPXI reported, PennDOT developed the new characters in consultation with the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The “Let Freedom Ring” plates became the standard in June 2025.
The Morning Call published an article that the state was in the process of reissuing older plates that are over ten years old or deemed illegible.
According to PennDOT, a plate is considered illegible if it shows blistering, peeling, or a loss of reflectivity. Safety inspection mechanics are authorized to determine if a plate needs replacement.
If they are issued a new plate, drivers can expect it to show up within 15 days. Custom plates can take longer.
