Fine for a dirty number plate?
Discussion
Coming back over the dartford bridge I noticed a car which looked to have been recently cleaned, but the rear number plate had a layer of travel grime so thick it was impossible to read. It was clear that the driver had gone to the effort of systematically cleaning around the plate.
As I overtook him, I looked back to see that he'd done exactly the same with the front plate.
It's not hard to work out why someone would do this, but if the bib decide to take issue, what's the offence / points / fine?
As I overtook him, I looked back to see that he'd done exactly the same with the front plate.
It's not hard to work out why someone would do this, but if the bib decide to take issue, what's the offence / points / fine?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/rules-of-th...
Up to £1000 fine, and something that was set up like that, deliberately keeping the plates dirty would be towards the "book thrown" side of the scale.
Up to £1000 fine, and something that was set up like that, deliberately keeping the plates dirty would be towards the "book thrown" side of the scale.
If the plates are the only bit thats dirty I'd expect a fine tbh as its blatantly obvious what the individual is trying to do.
If the whole car was dirty I'd expect a polite word from the BiB to keep the lights and plates clean, unless they were having a bad day then they might make you clean them.
If the whole car was dirty I'd expect a polite word from the BiB to keep the lights and plates clean, unless they were having a bad day then they might make you clean them.
Vee8man said:
Death by Mau Mau. Probably.
LucreLout said:
Having long ago lost a mate to hit and run, I often help these people be identifiable by giving the plate a wipe if I park next to one. The expressions of joy as the owner returns to a filthy car with a shinny legal plate rather give the game away as to what they're up to.
Excellent, good work. 
Careful though, as you might have some people accusing you of being a vigilante and telling you that you should leave that to the police and not poke your nose in!
speedking31 said:
Logically the punishment must be less than that for a missing plate because in some scenarios, e.g. illegal parking, it is still possible for the authorities to determine the VRN and so it's a lesser crime.
You could argue that a missing plate had dropped off since you left the house though, and it would be very heard for the police to prove otherwise. An illegibly filthy plate would take some time to develop, so unless you do LEJOG in the depths of winter that excuse wouldn't hold much water.knitware said:
I dont know about a dirty plate but when I drew a large cock on my mates rear window he was stopped by police quite quickly, he was asked if he knew about it, the police assumed he drew it himself. He was asked to erase the cock from his window and sent away.
I felt quite bad...
I felt quite bad...
I drew a large cock on the roof of my fiancee's car. When she saw it, she tried to sit on it.
funkyrobot said:
I drew a large cock on the roof of my fiancee's car. When she saw it, she tried to sit on it.
I keep my plates and lights clean for the obvious reason but also because I always think that if they're obscured that might be the one thing that tips a BiB over the edge into deciding to stop me.
You know the kind of thing; do something a bit daft and the copper thinks "t
t", do it with an illegal plate and muddy rear lights and he thinks "I'm going to stop that tt and do 'im."
Ain't nobody got time for dat!
You know the kind of thing; do something a bit daft and the copper thinks "t
t", do it with an illegal plate and muddy rear lights and he thinks "I'm going to stop that tt and do 'im."Ain't nobody got time for dat!
v12Legs said:
Excellent, good work.
Careful though, as you might have some people accusing you of being a vigilante and telling you that you should leave that to the police and not poke your nose in!
I'm sure my dead buddies parents would be more than accepting of their reasoning. Oh.. Hang on....Careful though, as you might have some people accusing you of being a vigilante and telling you that you should leave that to the police and not poke your nose in!
LucreLout said:
Having long ago lost a mate to hit and run, I often help these people be identifiable by giving the plate a wipe if I park next to one. The expressions of joy as the owner returns to a filthy car with a shinny legal plate rather give the game away as to what they're up to.
Touching someone elses property is generally a no no. Can see your point ref a dead mate but dont be surprised if you get a kick up the arse, a slap or worse still having your head caved in by an irate knuckle dragger returning owner unseen by yourself.Wipe over a dirty plate with a dry rag or just your hand and will scratch leaving the surface hazy, you really are better off leaving other peoples property alone.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff