3
Ensure™ Directional Image
Ensure™ Virtual Security Thread
Law Enforcement License Plate Verification Procedures Jan. 2009
Counterfeiting is a threat to public safety
Rather than stealing a plate, sophisticated criminals will go to the added effort of creating a
counterfeit because there is a much lower risk of detection.
License plates may be vulnerable to security breaches
• Conventional printed graphics and embossed characters are easy to duplicate.
• Printed watermarks are easy to duplicate and difficult to see at a distance.
• Holograms are readily available, easy to simulate and difficult to verify.
3M Security Marks
License plates with 3M security marks offer up to two features for double protection:
The 3M™ Ensure™ Directional Image and 3M™ Ensure™ Virtual Security Thread
3M’s Ensure directional image consists of a
circular security and warranty image that
repeats and runs vertically through the center
of the license plate. It is visible only when
viewed head-on at about a 30 degree angle to
horizontal. It “disappears” from view at
other angles.
3M’s Ensure virtual security thread consists
of a three-dimensional security image that
runs vertically through the center of the
license plate. The image consists of two
“threads.” One thread appears to float above
and the other below the surface of the plate.
It is visible head-on at distances of up to 50
feet or more.
3M™ Ensure™ Directional Image 3M™ Ensu
re™ Virtual Security
Thr
ead
▪ Customized for each jurisdiction ▪ Unique three-dimensional appearance
▪ Visible only within a range of angles ▪ Visible head-on up to 50 feet or more
▪ Easy verify, day or night ▪ Easy to verify, day or night
▪ Difficult to duplicate ▪ Difficult to duplicate
Demonstration Procedure
1. Park the object car with the license plate (front or back plate) facing north (away from
direct exposure to sun) during the day or night.
2. Position the viewing car about 50 feet directly behind the object car. Turn on high
beam headlights if viewing the license plate at night.
3. Slowly approach the object car until the individual “threads” of the Ensure virtual
security thread is clearly in view and you can see the double “thread” pattern (this
occurs within 20 feet).
4. Get out of the viewing car and observe the Ensure directional image and virtual security
thread at d
ifferent distances and angles.
5. You should now be ready to visually verify these security marks in actual situations.
3
Traffic Safety Systems Division
3M Center, Building 0235-3A-09
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 3M 2009 All Rights Reserved
www.3M.com/tss Electronic Only
4-8 ft.
Visible to a viewer standing (or in a vehicle)
directly in front of the plate at a distance of
up to 50 feet.
30 degrees
Up to 50 ft.
Visible to a viewer standing directly in front
of the plate at a distance of 4-8 feet. This
represents an angle of about 30 degrees
above perpendicular to the plate
©
