GB2357616A

GB2357616A - Vehicle identification and tracking system

Info

Publication number: GB2357616A
Application number: GB9929515A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Arthur Charles Chown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-14
Filing date: 1999-12-14
Publication date: 2001-06-27
Also published as: GB9929515D0

Abstract

In a vehicle identification and tracking system, each vehicle is provided on its underside with a unique magnetically coded tag 1. The codes are stored in a central database and correlated with information regarding the identities of the vehicles and their registered keepers. A series of magnetic scanners 6 is hidden from view at strategic locations underneath road surfaces. When a vehicle bearing a tag passes over a magnetic scanner, code information from the tag is scanned and passed to the central database, where it is correlated with the information identifying the vehicle and its keeper. The system may be used to identify stolen vehicles, or to charge road tolls automatically, or even to monitor vehicle speed. The system improves over existing optical scanning systems in that the magnetically coded tags can be scanned even when obscured by mud and dirt and in adverse weather conditions, and also in that the magnetic scanners are hidden from view, making them difficult to avoid by unscrupulous drivers.

Description

2357616 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING SYSTEM The present invention

relates to a system for identifying and tracking road vehicles such as cars and lorries by means of magnetic scanners ind coded tags.

It is known, for example from PCT/KR90/00024, US 4 555,618 and DE 29813354U, to provide a vehicle identification system in which officallyreadable bar codes are applied to vehicles and in which the bar codes are scxined by optical laser or infrared scanners mounted by the roadside. Each vehicle is uniquely identified by its applied bar code, and the roadside scanners are connected to a database associating the bar code with certain details regarding the vehicle. In this way, road tolls can be automatically charged to a driver's credit card, and sto en vehicles can be identified once the fact that they have been stolen is notified to the database operator. However, these systems use optically readable bar codes and are therefore unreliable should the vehicle be dirty and the bar code obscured. --urthermore, adverse weather conditions and bright sunlight can also interfere witi these optical systems. In addition, because the roadside scanners need a clear lin.. of sight in order to scan the bar codes, they must be located in exposed positions which increases the risk of accidental damage or even vandalism, and also mean., that unscrupulous motorists can seek to avoid the scanners.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle identification system comprising at least one vehicle fined with a magnetically coded tag, at least one magnetic scanner mounted underneath a road surface in such a way as to be hidden from view and adapted to scan and identify the magnetically coded tag, and a central database which is in communication With the at least one magnetic scanner and which includes a look-up table uniquely correlating code information from the magnetically coded tag with information idenlifying the at least one vehicle to which the magnetically coded tag is fitted.

1 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of identifying a vehicle, wherein a magnetically coded tag is affixed to the vehicle and at least one magnetic scanner is mounted underneath a road surface in such a way as to be hidden from view, the at least one magnetic scanner being adapted to scan code information from the magnetically coded tag when the vehicle passes over the at least one magnetic scanner, and wherein there is provided a central database which is in communication with the at least one magnetic scanner and which includes a look-up table uniquely correlating the code information scanned from the magnetically coded tag with information identifying the vehicle to which the magnetically coded tag is fitted so as to identify the vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetically coded tag for attachment to a vehicle or the like, the tag including a layer of a plastics material in which magnetic particles are embedded in a predetermined pattern so as to generate an identifiable magnetic signature when scanned by a magnetic scanner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle having an array of magnetic elements arranged in an underpart thereof, the array of magnetic elements being arranged so as to generate an identifiable magnetic signature when scanned by a magnetic scanner.

Because the present invention uses magnetically coded tags and magnetic scanners to scan the tags, it is possible to scan the tags reliably no matter what the weather conditions and regardless of dirt and mud which may cover the tag. Furthermore, because the magnetic scanners are mounted beneath the road surface, they are not visible to drivers of the vehicles or the general public, and are therefore difficult to avoid or to vandalise.

The magnetically coded tag may take the form of magnetic particles embedded in a plastics material such as epoxy resin or the like and arranged in a unique pattern, for example as a bar code. Other uniquely identifiable spatial arrangements of magnetic 2 particles in a plastics material such as epoxy resin or the like may be used, such as an array which varies in two dimensions. The elements of the bar code or array must be spaced from each other by a distance sufficient to allow reliable scanning of the tag as it passes over the magnetic scanner, particularly at speed. A spacing of at least 2.5cm is preferred, although other spacings may be found to be appropriate. The elements of the bar code or array must also be of a width or size sufficient to allow reliable scanning. A minimum width of 2. 5cm is preferred. The magnetic particles may be made of a ferromagnetic material, such as iron, nickel, cobalt and alloys thereof, including steel, and other alloys such as permalloy, mumetal and Heusler's alloys. The particles may be in the form of a powder or r letal filings, or may take the form of metallic ingots or elements of various appropriat sizes.

Alternatively, other forms of magnetically coded tag may be used, such as the tags commonly used in electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems available from companies such as Meto International GmbH or Flying.. Null Limited. These tags incorporate various soft and hard magnetic materials arranged in various spatial relationships so as to generate a unique coded signal when scanned by an appropriate scanner.

The magnetically coded tag is preferably affixed to the u iderside of the vehicle so as to pass relatively close to the magnetic scanner when the vehicle passes thereover. Advantageously, the tag is permanently affixed, for example by way of welding or epoxy resin sealant, so as to prevent tampering or removal. Alternatively, a tag may be physically incorporated into the chassis of a new vehiele during manufacture. For example, a unique array of magnetic materials may be distributed about the chassis of a vehicle so as to generate a unique code when the vehicle passes over a magnetic scanner, the chassis of the vehicle then acting in itself as,L large tag.

The magnetic scanners may take any conventional Ibrm suitable for scanning 30 magnetically coded tags of the type described above. For example, the magnetic scanner may take the form of an induction coil or loop cc upled to electronic circuitry 3 adapted to generate a code signal from the variations in current induced in the coil or loop as a tag passes overhead. The magnetic scanners may be active, in that they are provided with a power supply and generate an interrogating electromagnetic field through which the tags pass, or they may be passive, in that they rely on simple induction of current in the scanner by the passing tags. Preferably, each magnetic scanner will have a scanning element which extends across substantially the entire width of a road surface so as to ensure reliable scanning of all vehicles no matter which on which portion of the road surface they are travelling. The magnetic scanners may be positioned at strategic points such as entry and exit roads of motorways, roads leading into city centres, approach roads to sea ports and airports and generally at predetermined intervals along major and ultimately all roads.

For optimum results, it is intended that each vehicle registered in a given country or region will be permanently fitted or provided with its own, uniquely identifiable magnetically coded tag. A unique tag may be assigned to every new car upon manufacture or first ownership and registration, and may also be fitted to existing cars under government legislation.

A central computer containing the database is in communication with the magnetic scanners and is programmed with information identifying each vehicle, such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), the registration number of the vehicle, the name and address of the registered keeper of the vehicle, and the make, model and colour of the vehicle. Further information, such as insurance and road tax details, the mechanical roadworthiness of the vehicle (e.g. MOT status) and previous motoring convictions of the registered keeper may also be stored on the database, as may data regarding a keeper's credit card account or bank account, or a specific pre-payment account for road tolls. All or any part of this information is correlated in the database with the unique code of the magnetically coded tag which is affixed to the vehicle, thereby allowing an instant check to be made when the vehicle passes over a magnetic scanner. Upon change of ownership of a vehicle, these details will be updated with those of the new registered keeper without needing to change the tag.

4 The central computer may also contain data regarding the geographical location of each magnetic scanner, thereby allowing the locatio of any given vehicle to be determined as it passes over a magnetic scanner.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a n ber of advantages. Firstly, when a vehicle is stolen, this fact can be reported to c police or to the operator of the central computer, and the database updated so as o associate a "vehicle stolen" flag with the unique code of the magnetically code( tag of that vehicle. As the vehicle passes over the magnetic scanners, an alarm signal may be issued to the police, who will be able to determine the location of the vehicle. Magnetic scanners provided at national border crossings and at ports may be used to indicate to border police or customs officers that a vehicle has been stolen, thereby allowing the driver of the stolen vehicle to be apprehended and the vehicle recovered and returned to its registered keeper.

It may also be possible to predict the likely.route of th stolen vehicle by monitoring its passage over a series of magnetic scanners, th reby allowing the police to intercept the vehicle by means such as roadblocks or 'Stinger"-type tyre puncturing devices. Furthermore, police or traffic wardens m be equipped with hand- held t r a h h magnetic scanners which can be used to scan the mag etically coded tags of parked or passing vehicles so as to determine whether a vehicl has been stolen. Such handheld scanners may also be used, where the database n the central is appropriately programmed, to determine whether a vehicle is pro erly taxed or insured, and to determine details of the registered keeper.

A barcode or other code, such as a numerical or alphai Lumerical code, corresponding to the unique code of the tag, may be printed on docur ientation relating to a vehicle, such as the registration documents, insurance documents, tax documents, MOT certificate and the like. The vehicle may also be provided with a VIN or chassis or engine number corresponding to or correlated in the database with the unique code of the tag. This helps to identify stolen vehicles when offered for sale to the public, who will be able to check the identity of the vehicle by using a barcode scanner or other computer input device to check by way of the database on the central computer whether the vehicle documentation does in fact match the details stored therein 5 regarding the vehicle itself A second advantage provided by the present invention is automatic collection of road tolls. Magnetic scanners fitted under the surface of roads, bridges or tunnels where a toll is charged for use thereof can be used to identify vehicles as they pass and automatically to charge the registered keeper's credit card or bank account with an appropriate amount by way of the information stored in the database. Where magnetic scanners are located at relatively frequent, and preferably regular, intervals along a road, the toll charged may be a function, e.g. a proportional function, of the distance travelled.

However, this may have disadvantages in that a driver may have changed his or her credit card or bank details without informing the.operator of the central computer, or may be overdrawn or have exceeded his or her credit limit, which can make it difficult to collect the road tolls without the necessity for expensive legal action.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a pre-pay system for collecting road tolls. A driver may be issued with a personal coded tag which bears a code corresponding to or correlated in the database with the unique code of the magnetically coded tag affixed to his or her car. This personal coded tag may comprise a bar code fitted to the keys of the vehicle or mounted on a key fob.

Alternatively, there may be provided a card bearing a bar code or other appropriate code, a smart card including electronic circuitry containing details of the unique code, or any type of coded tag bearing a code corresponding to or correlated with the unique code of the magnetically coded tag affixed to the vehicle. Pre-payment stations may then be provided at locations such as service or filling stations, where a driver would present his or her personal coded tag which would then be scanned by a scanner linked to the central computer. The driver would then pre-pay a certain 6 amount, either in cash or by credit or debit card or y other means which would o d guarantee payment to the organisation collecting the ro d tolls, and this pre-payment 1 0 c would be correlated on the database with the unique co e of the vehicle in question. A printed receipt may optionally be issued to the drivel so as to indicate the amount paid and the distance which may be travelled or the number of times the vehicle could pass through the toll areas, such as into a city. As the driver later passes the magnetic scanners on the toll road, a predetermined amount would be deducted appropriately from the pre-paid amount. Once the pr payment balance reaches or r goes below zero, this will be flagged on the database, d the driver will be informed of this fact the next time he or she presents the person coded tag at a pre-payment station. Further pre-payment would then have to be ma le so as to make up the debit and also to put the road tolling account back into credit If a driver persistently fails to keep his or her account in credit, then a warning c uld be issued by way of the central computer and the vehicle may be stopped by poli e or other authorities.

Alternatively, magnetic scanners could be mounted ben ath the forecourts of service or filling stations by the fuel pumps. When a vehicle tops to fill up with fuel, the magnetically coded tag may be scanned and the prep ent account checked to see if it is in debit. If so, then an appropriate amount may omatically be added to the fuel bill so as to bring the account back into credit. Inc ntive points or other benefits often associated with the purchase of fuel may addition ly be automatically credited to an incentive or benefit account associated in the datal ase with the unique code.

As a further alternative, magnetic scanners may be fi ed under the surface of car parks or the like. Parking charges may then automatic ly be debited from a driver's credit card or bank account, or from a pre-payment ac ount as described above. In car parks where exit is restricted by movable barriers or the like, a vehicle whose keeper's pre-payment account is in debit may be prevented from leaving the car park until the pre-payment account is placed back in credit, r example by making a cash or other payment at the exit of the car park by wa of a pre-payment machine, personal computer or mobile or fixed telephone as desc 'bed above.

7 It would also be possible to arrange for direct pre-payment by way of a personal computer or mobile or fixed telephone or the like. A driver would issue a bank payment order together with his or her unique code through the personal computer or mobile or fixed telephone or the like to the central computer, where a credit will be registered.

In addition to pre-payment of road tolls, a driver may also use a personal computer, mobile or fixed telephone or pre-payment station to pay for other items, such as government road tax The personal computer or pre-payment station may issue a receipt in the form of a tax disc for display in the windscreen of the vehicle in the usual manner. The tax disc may also bear a bar code or other code corresponding to or correlated with the unique code of the magnetically coded tag, thereby enabling police officers or traffic wardens to scan the tax discs of parked cars with a hand-held scanner so as to determine whether the road tax was up to date, as well as being able to check all other details held in the database of the central computer.

A third advantage provided by embodiments of the present invention is automatic monitoring of vehicle speeds and congestion. By providing magnetic scanners at predetermined intervals along a road, it is possible to determine the time taken for a vehicle to travel a known distance between two or more fixed points, and an average speed for the vehicle may then be determined. The magnetic scanners may be regularly spaced from each other, in which case the distance between each pair of magnetic scanners may be treated as a global constant in the database for the purposes of calculating average speed. Alternatively, where the magnetic scanners are not regularly spaced, then the individual measured distance between each pair of magnetic scanners is stored in the database and correlated with identification data regarding the magnetic scanners so as to allow average speed to be calculated. Should this average speed exceed the speed limit set for that portion of the road, then a speeding ticket and fine may automatically be issued and sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle by making use of the data stored in the database. Where this 8 data includes driving licence details, then endorsement may automatically be added to the licence of the registered keeper, subject to verification that the registered keeper is in fact the driver of the vehicle at that time. This has advantages over existing optical speed camera systems in that the magnetic scanners are not visible, and are therefore difficult if not impossible for a driver n identify and avoid. This in turn will encourage drivers to keep within given- speed 1 inits at all times, and not just in areas where speed cameras are visibly mounted by the side of the road.

The magnetic scanners can also be used to monitor congestion on various parts of the road network, for example by determining where traffic flow has slowed or come to a standstill. This information can be used to alert traffi. police to possible accidents.

Furthermore, information regarding congested road may also be supplied to p d individual drivers by way of a radio or other wireless 1 from the central computer to a display in the vehicle, thereby allowing drivers to a oid congested areas.

For the avoidance of doubt, the expression "vehicle" as used hereinbefore is intended to include cars, lorries, motorcycles, pedal cycles, caravans, trailers and all other road vehicles. A caravan or trailer may have a different magnetically coded tag from the towing vehicle.

As a fin-ther development, the magnetically coded tags may be applied to articles of value which are at risk of theft, especially such items a,, antiques and ftirniture which are likely to be transported by road after being stolen. The magnetically coded tags on these articles may be scanned by the magnetic scamers in addition to any tags present on the vehicle in which they are being transpo -ted, and may thus be located after having been stolen.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference shall now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

9 FIGURE 1 shows a magnetically coded tag; and FIGURE 2 shows a car fitted with the tag of Figure 1 passing over a magnetic scanner.

A magnetically coded tag 1 is shown in Figu re 1. The tag 1 comprises a layer 2 of an epoxy resin in which magnetic particles 3 are embedded in the pattern of a bar code 4. Each bar of the bar code 4 is at least 2.5cm wide, as is each gap therebetween, so as to enable reliable scanning. In common with conventional optical bar codes, different and unique bar codes 4, representative of numerical or alphanumerical codes, can be produced by varying the widths and spacings of the bars during manufacture.

The tag 1 is permanently mounted on the underside of a vehicle 5, as shown in Figure 2. The tag 1 is affixed by way of welding or epoxy resin. Two magnetic scanners 6 and 6' are shown mounted underneath a road surface 7 in such a way that they are not visible from above. The magnetic scanners 6, 6' are linked to a central computer (not shown) by way of a data communication line 8 which in turn may be linked to a relay station (not shown) which transmits scanned information to the central computer by way of a wireless link. Each magnetic scanner 6, 6' includes an induction loop or coil (not shown) which is powered so as to generate an interrogating electromagnetic field 9. The interrogating electromagnetic field 9 interacts with the magnetic particles 3 of the bar code 4 so as to generate a unique magnetic signature which is picked up by the induction loop or coil and interpreted by electronic circuitry 10 into the form of unique a numerical or alphanumerical code. This unique code is then transmitted by way of the data communication line 8 and the relay station to the central computer. Because the bar code 4 is scanned magnetically, it does not matter if the tag 1 becomes obscured with mud or dirt. Furthermore, because the magnetic scanners 6, 6' are buried invisibly beneath the road surface 7, they are less liable to damage by way of wear and tear, accident or vandalism, and are difficult if not impossible to avoid because their locations are not known to the general public.

The central computer includes a database which corre ates the unique code which is assigned to the vehicle 5 upon first registration r ownership and physically manifested in the form of the bar code 4 with various data regarding the vehicle and the registered keeper thereof as hereinbefore described. This allows the vehicle 5 to be identified and tracked as it passes over the magnetic scanners 6, 6', and makes available the data regarding the vehicle and registeied keeper to interested third parties, such as the police and road tolling authorities a; hereinbefore described.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle identification system comprising at least one vehicle fitted with a magnetically coded tag, at least one magnetic scanner mounted underneath a road surface in such a way as to be hidden from view and adapted to scan and identify the magnetically coded tag, and a central database which is in communication with the at least one magnetic scanner and which includes a look-up table uniquely correlating code information from the magnetically coded tag with information identifying the at least one vehicle to which the magnetically coded tag is fitted.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetically coded tag comprises a spatial array of magnetic elements arranged in a pattern unique to the at least one vehicle.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the magnetically coded tag comprises a spatial array of magnetic particles embedded in a plastics material.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the magnetic particles are arranged in the form of a bar code.

5. A system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the plastics material is an epoxy resin.

6. A system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 depending from claim 4, wherein the bar code is made up of strips formed from magnetic particles and spaces between the strips, the strips and the spaces each having a minimum width of 2.5cm.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnetically coded tag is affixed to an underside of the vehicle.

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8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein 1 magnetically coded tag is permanently affixed to the underside of the vehicle by - ray of welding or by an epoxy resin.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetically coded tag comprises an array of magnetic elements distributed in a unique pattern across a chassis portion of the vehicle.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, hheerein the magnetic scanner tl includes a scanning element which extends across subs 'ally an entire width of the road surface.

11. A system as claimed in any preceding claii i, wherein the at least one magnetic scanner includes a scanning element compri ing an induction loop or coil which is connected to electronic circuitry adapted to rocess signals induced in the induction loop or coil through interaction with the ma etically coded tag when this passes over the scanning element.

12. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of magnetic scanners is located at predetermined spaced intervals ong and underneath the road surface, and wherein the spacing between each adjace t pair of magnetic scanners is stored in the central database and correlated with information identifying each adjacent pair of magnetic scanners, computer means eing provided and associated with the central database so as to calculate an aver ge speed of the at least one vehicle as it travels between each adjacent pair of ma tic scanners.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding cl, wherein the information identifying the at least one vehicle and stored in th central database includes a registration number associated with the vehicle and etails identifying a registered keeper of the vehicle.

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14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the information further includes details of the make, model and colour of the vehicle.

15. A system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the information further 5 includes insurance and road tax details regarding the registered keeper of the vehicle.

16. A system as claimed in claim 13, 1.4 or 15, wherein the information further includes details of motoring convictions against the registered keeper of the vehicle.

17. A system as claimed in claim 13, 14, 15 or 16, wherein the information further includes credit card or bank account details of the registered keeper of the vehicle.

18. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the information further includes details of a road toll pre-payment account of the registered keeper of the vehicle.

19. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the central database includes data identifYing a geographical location for each magnetic scanner.

20. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, flu-ther comprising a portable hand-held magnetic scanner adapted to scan and identify the magnetically coded tag.

21. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a nonmagnetically coded tag adapted to be carried by a person, the nonmagnetically coded tag being provided with scannable indicia representative of the code information from the magnetically coded tag.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the non-magnetically coded tag is provided with an optically scannable bar code.

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23. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a smart card programmed with data representative of the code information from the magnetically coded tag.

24. A method of identifying a vehicle, wherein a magnetically coded tag is affixed to the vehicle and at least one magnetic scanner is mounted underneath a road surface in such a way as to be hidden from view, the at least one magnetic scanner being adapted to scan code information from the magnetically coded tag when the vehicle passes over the at least one magnetic scanner, and wherein there is provided a central database which is in communication with the least one magnetic scanner t ' and which includes a look-up table uniquely correlating, the code information scanned from the magnetically coded tag with information ident ing the vehicle to which the magnetically coded tag is fitted so as to identify the veh[cle.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the 'nformation identifying the at least one vehicle and stored in the central database includes a registration number associated with the vehicle and details identifying a registered keeper of the vehicle.

26. A method according to claim 24 or 25, wh rein the information further includes details of the make, model and colour of the v hicle.

27. A method according to any one of claims 24 t 26, wherein the information further includes insurance and road tax details regardi g the registered keeper of the vehicle.

28. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the information further includes details of motoring convictions ag t the registered keeper of the vehicle.

29. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein the information further includes credit card or bank account details of the registered keeper of the vehicle.

30. A method according to any one of c lainis 24 to 29, wherein the information further includes details of a road toll pre-payment account of the registered keeper of the vehicle.

31. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 3 0, wherein the central database includes data identifying a geographical location for each magnetic scanner.

32. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 3 1, wherein the central database includes data indicating whether the at least one vehicle has been stolen.

33. A method according to claim 32 depending from claim 3 1, wherein the at least one stolen vehicle is identified and located by way of the central database and identification and location information is passed on to police or other authorities.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein the registered keeper is issued with a non-magnetically coded tag adapted to be carried by a person, the non- magnetically coded tag being provided with scaimable indicia representative of the code information from the magnetically coded tag, and wherein the registered keeper presents the non-magnetically coded for scanning at a pre-payment station, the non magnetically coded tag is scanned and the keeper's vehicle is identified, the keeper pays an amount of money to place the pre-payment account into credit, and predetermined amounts of money are then automatically debited from the pre payment account as the keeper's vehicle passes the magnetic scanners.

35. A method according to claim '14, wherein the scannable indicia are in the form of an optically scannable bar code.

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36. A method according to claim 30, wherein the rr gistered keeper is issued with a smart card adapted to be carried by a person, the smart card being programmed with data representative of the code information from the magnetically coded tag, and wherein the registered keeper presents the smart card br scanning at a pre-payment station, the smart card is scanned and the keeper's vehicle is identified, the keeper pays an amount of money to place the pre-payment account into credit, and predetermined amounts of money are th - en autornatIcally debited from the pre payment account as the keeper's vehicle passes the magnetic scanners.

37. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 36, wherein a plurality of magnetic scanners is located at predetermined spaced i itervals along and underneath the road surface, and wherein the spacing between each adjacent pair of magnetic scanners is stored in the central database and correlated with information identifying each adjacent pair of magnetic scanners, computer means being provided and associated with the central database so as to calculate a i average speed of the at least one vehicle as it travels between each adjacent pair of magnetic scanners.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein speeding ticket or fine is automatically issued to a keeper of the at least one vehi,,le if the average speed of that vehicle is found to exceed a predetermined maximum.

39. A magnetically coded tag for attachment to a vehicle or the like, the tag including a layer of a plastics material in which magnefle particles are embedded in a predetermined pattern so as to generate an identifia le magnetic signature when scanned by a magnetic scanner.

40. A vehicle having an array of magnetic elements arranged in an underpart thereof, the array of magnetic elements being arranged so as to generate an identifiable magnetic signature when scanned by a ma etic scanner.

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41. A vehicle identification system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

42. A method of identifying a vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described 5 with reference to the accompanying drawings.

43. A magnetically coded tag for attachment to a vehicle or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

44. A vehicle having an array of magnetic elements arranged in an underpart thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

is