Number plate law?

[Niel]

Knowing we have some officers as members, what would you advise?

I bought a new front plate, no BS marking, no makers name, also an import rear (for the car-parking spot as it happens) which the shop advised me would be perfectly legal on a non-import, again no BS/makers details. No inspection of documents etc, just looked at the l/r and made them.

Now I will be using the front plate, down on the bumper as a std plates too tall so it would have lost the BS etc in trimming to fit anyway, and the existing fully marked, full size plate is going on the front of the rack. Am I asking for trouble?

Any other advice?

Niel.

[DarrenG]

So long as the font is the correct one and it's clearly readable you ought to be fine.  The shop on the other hand is committing an offence.

[P16LET]

You are probably right that the more knowledgeable "boys in blue" will be able to advise you better....but this is just my nugget of info.

As far as I am aware, whoever produces and supplies you with number plates has a legal obligation to show some kind of traceablity on the new plates.  As a lot of people don't want to indulge in the whole "free advertising" thing, and would prefer not to display a specific garages name and contact details, this, in most instances has been whittled down to just a post code etched into the front of the plate somewhere.

Similarly, they are in breach of new laws and guidelines that became effective quite a few years ago now, in that they shouldn't supply plates of any description, without seeing the vehicles registration document. In theory if you own the V5, you own the vehicle!

So long as you are carrying a white plate on the front and a yellow on the back (..or black and white if your vehicle is old enough!..and reflective preferably) and neither is of a ridiculously small size or has modified lettering, you should be O.K....and as for where the plate is mounted, well, so long as it isn't going to cause injury should a front end collision occur with a pedestrian/cyclist...isn't so high that it is thought to be missing!...or so low that you could pull it off on speed humps, you should be left well alone....hope this helps  :)

[Terranosaurus]

Theres a good guide HERE

[Bulli]

you will be fine as the fuzz wont be able to prove when the plates were made or fitted.

the shop, God bless em, are commiting an offence. They should have had a blood sample, DNA checked you against the sex offenders register and tortured you on the rack to make sure you have a legal right to those plates.

Buy them a pint, top lads. The number plate law is the biggest farce in recent history, it DOESNT stop criminals it just penalises normal law abiding drivers....and mean we have to pay loads more for number plates!!!

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Buy them a pint, top lads. The number plate law is the biggest farce in recent history, it DOESNT stop criminals it just penalises normal law abiding drivers....and mean we have to pay loads more for number plates!!!

I say! You aren't suggesting that the Government has introduced laws that penalise ordinary folk are you? :shock:  :shock:

As for it being a farce, I couldn't possibly comment!

[MudRat]

The Number plte has to be 90 degrees to the ground ie Upright, not sloping etc, it has to be clearly visible from the front and rear, no obstructions.  :lol:

[JumboBeef]

Just type 'show plates' into Google and you can buy number plates 100% legally on the net without ID.

To the letter of the law, you shouldn't use these on the road but, come on, they look just like the ones from halfurds, just without the BS number and an address of the maker.

As already said, the police do not know when the plates were made so they could have been made before the silly number plate law came in.  As long as they look right, they'll be fine.....the police have a lot more to worry about than a missing BS number.

Trust me, I know about this (say no more, say no more )

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Just type 'show plates' into Google and you can buy number plates 100% legally on the net without ID.

To the letter of the law, you shouldn't use these on the road but, come on, they look just like the ones from halfurds, just without the BS number and an address of the maker.

As already said, the police do not know when the plates were made so they could have been made before the silly number plate law came in.  As long as they look right, they'll be fine.....the police have a lot more to worry about than a missing BS number.

Trust me, I know about this (say no more, say no more )

Is this a case of a nod is as good as a wink to blind bat?

[marjan]

The Number plte has to be 90 degrees to the ground ie Upright, not sloping etc, it has to be clearly visible from the front and rear, no obstructions.  :lol:

Not true, my mates landy has just gone through an MOT with one on a slope. The law just says it must be readable, nowhere does it say that it has to be at 90 degrees.

[JumboBeef]

Trust me, I know about this (say no more, say no more )

Is this a case of a nod is as good as a wink to blind bat?

  :-$

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Trust me, I know about this (say no more, say no more )

Is this a case of a nod is as good as a wink to blind bat?

  :-$

Sounds hunky dory!

[jjsaul]

on a RRC it will pass an MoT with it inside the windscreen behind the instrument binnacle...mine both passed like that (even tho one of them has a rollcage in the way    :lol: )

[disco-v8]

ok bit of a change of subject... even tho its still about number plates

ive seen alot of offroaders from mudclub aswell with stick on number plater on the front of the bonnet!!!!!

are these legal as they dont look like the reflective sort?????

plus where do you get them from

[DarrenG]

ok bit of a change of subject... even tho its still about number plates

ive seen alot of offroaders from mudclub aswell with stick on number plater on the front of the bonnet!!!!!

are these legal as they dont look like the reflective sort?????

plus where do you get them from

They're not legal, but as above, if sensibly used with correct font etc and visible from the front they're unlikely to attract the wrong sort of attention.

[V8MoneyPit]

..... my mates landy has just gone through an MOT with one on a slope. The law just says it must be readable, nowhere does it say that it has to be at 90 degrees.

This is true, but the requirements for the MOT are not the same as use on the road! This is true of many vehicle requirements.

The MOT manual states reason for rejection as:
1:A plate which is:
  a:Missing
  b:sSo insecure it may fall off
  c:Having one or more figures missing or incomplete
  d:faded, dirty or obscured (e.g. obscured by a towbar or not easily legible by a person standing approx. 20 metres away)

2a:Figures incorrectly displayed
2b:A Figure misformed so that it may be misread
2c:A Figure which is not of equal width along it's entire length

I guess 1d is the most relevant to this thread. What it means is that most bonnet mounted stick on plates should fail the MOT.

I once had an MOT tester fail a car with a cracked plate. It was held on with several self adhesive pads so was not about to fall off and the letters were all clearly visible. I had to persuade him to read his manual (in the politest possible way of course!) and tell me if it his fail was actually correct. Needless to say, the car passed it's MOT  :roll:

[JumboBeef]

I guess 1d is the most relevant to this thread. What it means is that most bonnet mounted stick on plates should fail the MOT.

What about these then................?

[V8MoneyPit]

Yep! That should fail an MOT.....*if* they cannot be clearly read from someone stood 20 metres away. The MOT manual is quite clear in what it says. However, it doesn't take into account the height of the vehicle or for that matter the height of the MOT tester  :lol: It just has to be clearly readable from 20 metres.

The e-type has the advantage of being rather lower than a Land Rover, so they might just get away with it!!

My MG Midget always had the plate on top like that and it never failed an MOT. I'm sure it depends on the MOT testers idea of what's acceptable too!

[MudRat]

..... my mates landy has just gone through an MOT with one on a slope. The law just says it must be readable, nowhere does it say that it has to be at 90 degrees.

This is true, but the requirements for the MOT are not the same as use on the road! This is true of many vehicle requirements.:

Oh and 90 degree bit is true, you can argue with my super intendent neighbour if you want!!!  

[Terranosaurus]

ok bit of a change of subject... even tho its still about number plates

ive seen alot of offroaders from mudclub aswell with stick on number plater on the front of the bonnet!!!!!

are these legal as they dont look like the reflective sort?????

plus where do you get them from

They're not legal, but as above, if sensibly used with correct font etc and visible from the front they're unlikely to attract the wrong sort of attention.

I can source the correct reflective backgrounds and letters if anyone wants proper stick on ones.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

All I can say is that I had far more important things to deal with, like if the car was nicked, than book someone for a plate without a kitemark or makers name on it.
Important stuff like filling in my overtime forms, ignoring the Public and shopping at Tesco.
Damn, I'm going to go to Hell for that one! Joke, people, joke! Aargh, I feel the burning, my brain is going black, black as they send me to the Chasm of Clams!