number plates (uk only )

[Kpy]

A recent story in the Newcastle evening chronicle showed a plate which had picked up a fine for its owner , the plate had been spotted by a camera , which apparently noted that the spacing was incorrect. There was a picture of the plate being held by the owner and it looked ok to me, the reg wasn't anything special just initials in the correct font.
It really is the sign of a surveilance state that fines a citizen for a minor technical offence picked up using remote surveilance.

To be fair to the police, the owner of the registration failed to mention that he was fined for having his company logo as part of the plate, which is obviously illegal.

Is that illegal though??

Yes.
The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001:
PART IV ....
16.—(1) No material other than a registration mark may be displayed on a registration plate
except material complying with the requirements of any of the relevant standards mentioned
in Schedule 2. (International distinguishing signs)

[Nobby Diesel]

i think its the dvla own the registration, they can re-voke it. i'm sure the first person who has it reviked ill appeal, then the case law will determine future action.

That's absolutely correct. When you buy a reg mark from the DVLA, you are entering into an agreement with the Secretary of State, whereby you  undertake not to misrepresent the registration mark in any way.

[redstu]

My plates (correctly spaced, but I haven't measured!) have a euro flag with a black background rather than the standard blue, it looks much better as it keeps the plates in two colours, before having them made I rang an MOT station to see if they thought that would be ok and the reply was that it didn't matter, however it now seems that they aren't legal.
However its nothing but petty beaurocracy if I get stopped for it, it wont be picked up by ANPR so only an officious ~@~@ would pick it up. Lets hope that the uninsured drivers talking into their handheld mobiles whilst speeding get picked up first, once the country is cleared of this danger then there might be time for officers to spend on fund raising for HMG.

[Lawnmower Man]

Another interesting point is that the document talks about Plate fitted before 1 September 2001 and Plates fitted after 1 September 2001.  What are the rules for Plates fitted on 1 September 2001.   So if you have a 1999 car and you break a number plate if you replace the plate it will be fittted after 1 September 2001.   Does that mean it must comply with the post 1 September 2001 rules? 

The legislation itself refers in all instances to On or after 1 September 2001.

Well I kinda guessed that would be the case.       

I also guess that rather than "Number Plates Fitted" or "Vehicles constructed" they mean "Vehicles first registered".    But it's more complex than that.  If you import a second hand car and you can prove the Date of Registration I am pretty sure the DVLA will allocate you a Registration for that year.   
Of course if they can't determine the date you get a "Q" plate.

I know it's not mentioned in the document Steve posted.  But you can't Transfer the plate  AB 57 ABC to a car that is currently registered as
AB 07 ABC.  That is true even if the 57 car was registered on 1 Sept 2007 and the 07 registered on 31 Aug 2007.  Both cars will have been constructed before 1 Sept and it's quite possible that the 57 car was constructed before the 07 car.  You can of course transfer the 07 Plate to the 57 car since that make the car look older.

A friend of mine purchased a secondhand car that had been Registered on 1 Aug one year but the Letter was the letter for the previous year. 
He quired it with the Motor Taxation dept. and they amended the Mark so his K reg car became an L reg car.

But if I understand it's purpose the document it is to guide a lay person by providing a "Plain English" version of the law.  But it's not really that good and of course it would not stand up in court.

t.

[Leftie]

( sorry for typing, still getting used to being one handed )

Robbo, OK what happened to the other one?

If you training in unidextrorial workings let me know mate.

Leftie

[Robbo SPS]

( sorry for typing, still getting used to being one handed )

Robbo, OK what happened to the other one?

If you training in unidextrorial workings let me know mate.

Leftie

the leftie is broken. it was hit by white van man and is in plaster for 6 weeks.

[Robbo SPS]

My plates (correctly spaced, but I haven't measured!) have a euro flag with a black background rather than the standard blue, it looks much better as it keeps the plates in two colours, before having them made I rang an MOT station to see if they thought that would be ok and the reply was that it didn't matter, however it now seems that they aren't legal.
However its nothing but petty beaurocracy if I get stopped for it, it wont be picked up by ANPR so only an officious ~@~@ would pick it up. Lets hope that the uninsured drivers talking into their handheld mobiles whilst speeding get picked up first, once the country is cleared of this danger then there might be time for officers to spend on fund raising for HMG.

most people spend time on un-insured phone holding speeders. i'd be happy if the digits were legal or readable from 20.5 metres. there are always others who are "stricter" with more minor infringements.

Did you know motorcycle indictors have to be 240 mm apart at the rear !!!

[Leftie]

( sorry for typing, still getting used to being one handed )

Robbo, OK what happened to the other one?

If you training in unidextrorial workings let me know mate.

Leftie

the leftie is broken. it was hit by white van man and is in plaster for 6 weeks.

Robbo,

Sorry to hear that mate. I hope you knicked him well and truely and banged to rights.

Well, we can't really rename you 'Rightie' can we. So how about Dexter?

Leftie

[Snoring Rhino]

( sorry for typing, still getting used to being one handed )

Robbo, OK what happened to the other one?

If you training in unidextrorial workings let me know mate.

Leftie

the leftie is broken. it was hit by white van man and is in plaster for 6 weeks.

Bad luck Phil, i am rapidly learning that it's best to give white van mand and his mate Tipper man a very wide berth on the bike.

[Lorry]

Bad luck Phil, i am rapidly learning that it's best to give white van man and his mate Tipper man a very wide berth on the bike.

Look out for him at weekends too - usually in an old BMW

As for number plates, all the criminals buy theirs in Jersey or the Isle of Man.  Same set up, different law

[pretzel]

Yep....pretzel has tw05 top on his Nissan

I freely admit that technically speaking my plates are illegal if the letter of the law is applied.

However, they are not 'personalised'. They did come with the car and the spacing is correct.

But they are changed to legal ones for the MoT.

BUT, I would never stitch up a mate as wishy seems to do here.

BTW Robbo, have a look at CA South Coast meet soon, dates to be organised. Looking at end of August.

Leftie,

No problem about my good friend Wishy - he hasn't stitched me up (well, not in this instance anyway). To my knowledge my plates have the correct typeface and spacing, with no emblems, flags or any other nonsense. I was quite specific with the supplying dealer that these criteria should be met when they registered the car.  It's just a personalised registration.

It will be interesting to see if I get a visit from our friends in the constabulary as a result of this posting mind - will he be hauled up for wasting police time?

Pete B.

[Jack the Hat]

Going on this thread fella's how do i stand with going over to an electroluminescent number plate as i can not see the difference from what i already have (wishing to stay legal).
 I have a TVR Griffith which is a backlight transparent number plate as fitted as standard , which is starting to look a little old. So i thought electroluminesence would be a good replacement any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
As for spacing and adding black number plate caps to alter how a number plate reads i cannot see the piont it is an easy bang to rights nick so why bother ?

[Big G]

Going on this thread fella's how do i stand with going over to an electroluminescent number plate as i can not see the difference from what i already have (wishing to stay legal).
 I have a TVR Griffith which is a backlight transparent number plate as fitted as standard , which is starting to look a little old. So i thought electroluminesence would be a good replacement any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
As for spacing and adding black number plate caps to alter how a number plate reads i cannot see the piont it is an easy bang to rights nick so why bother ?

Electroluminescent plates are a tricky one. The regulations require that the space where the plate is fitted is lit, so technically you still have to have the standard numberplate lamps. Also, the numberplate has to be retroreflective an comply with the relevant standards. Provided that both of these conditions are satisfied then I believe that EL plates are OK to use.
Word of caution though, they can be very noisy from an EMC point of view if not properly designed so you may get problems with radio & mobile reception.

[Lawnmower Man]

Saw a very doggey plate today.   S 14 LKY  where the 4 was an L with a very small vertical bar to make it in to a 4.  The spacing was all wrong too.

So it actually read SILLKY.

t.

[Robbo SPS]

electroluminescent number plate

Not sure what that is, but i'll ask the question or read the books in the morning.