PennDOT has issued a statement regarding the situation, clarifying, “The slash added through the zero was meant to aid in distinguishing between the numeral 0 and the letter O, which both the license plate readers (LPR) and the human eye have struggled to tell apart on previous registration plates.”
Automated cameras and recognition systems contribute to the issue at hand. There have been longstanding concerns about their precision, and it certainly appears necessary to establish a system of checks and balances before bills or fines are issued to potential drivers. This is an astute consideration, especially as one of the largest cities in the U.S. is implementing automated speed cameras to enforce substantial fines.