No front numberplate - legal?
Discussion
Most mornings I walk past a Ferrari 458 that has no front plate. Hasn't ever had one either. A few months ago I saw traffic wardens and police swarming all over it and expected to see a front plate later, but no.
A neighbour has an MX3/Eunos, also without a front plate. Hasn't had one for months.
Am I missing something? In this day of front facing cameras, SPECS etc etc, HTF can these guys get away with it?
A neighbour has an MX3/Eunos, also without a front plate. Hasn't had one for months.
Am I missing something? In this day of front facing cameras, SPECS etc etc, HTF can these guys get away with it?
I never had one on my Mx5 back in my yoof. Was pulled over once in 2 years and I told them it had been nicked. Got given a crime number and I was off on my way. Was told to get a new one asap - which being 18 I didn't. I dread to think what they'd have done if they'd caught me again.
fatjon said:
I can't point to legislation but I seem to recall that imported vehicles with no place for a front plate don't have to carry one. Maybe I imagined it though, just something I tripped over when looking at regs for my quad which really has nowhere to stick one on it at the front.
Almost, import vehicles can use a motorcyle size font and spacing (Section 14a) where provision is not made for a numberplate that conforms to the size and spacing of a car number plate.Could always carry it in the car "it fell off officer" (make sure its a bit scuffed rather than pristine with the protective fim still on) might get you through the first couple of stops.
As said it's just a fine no points, not a huge one and cars do look better without them if there's no recess/mounting plaque etc.
Best tip is to leave a used/cracked/scuffed one with some sticky pads stuck on the back, wipe the exposed pads so they're not sticky and leave it in the boot, can claim it fell off that day and you don't have the V5 on you to go get another. Might get you out of a fine, but it obviously won't work again.
Saying that, if it looks obvious that you'd not run one then police aren't stupid, but usually tell you to put it on rather than fine you straight away. I've never not run one but I've been in friends cars that have been pulled over for it, never been fined for just no front plate but will add it on top of other things from what I've seen.
Best tip is to leave a used/cracked/scuffed one with some sticky pads stuck on the back, wipe the exposed pads so they're not sticky and leave it in the boot, can claim it fell off that day and you don't have the V5 on you to go get another. Might get you out of a fine, but it obviously won't work again.
Saying that, if it looks obvious that you'd not run one then police aren't stupid, but usually tell you to put it on rather than fine you straight away. I've never not run one but I've been in friends cars that have been pulled over for it, never been fined for just no front plate but will add it on top of other things from what I've seen.
Surely in this case "import" means a car with no reasonable place to put one, and that has been imported from outside of the UN/EU type approval area (and hence doesn't have a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer), and not just "a car made abroad". My car is as much of an "import" as a 458 is and I can't get away without having a front plate.
My understanding has always been that for a car to be legal without having a front number plate "because it's an import" it would have to not be homologated in the EU, have been imported from somewhere where you don't have to have a front number plate (which is just a few states in the USA IIRC?) and have a front end design that doesn't have anywhere appropriate to fit one. A Camaro ZL1, perhaps?
My understanding has always been that for a car to be legal without having a front number plate "because it's an import" it would have to not be homologated in the EU, have been imported from somewhere where you don't have to have a front number plate (which is just a few states in the USA IIRC?) and have a front end design that doesn't have anywhere appropriate to fit one. A Camaro ZL1, perhaps?
rsox87 said:
Surely in this case "import" means a car with no reasonable place to put one, and that has been imported from outside of the UN/EU type approval area (and hence doesn't have a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer), and not just "a car made abroad". My car is as much of an "import" as a 458 is and I can't get away without having a front plate.
My understanding has always been that for a car to be legal without having a front number plate "because it's an import" it would have to not be homologated in the EU, have been imported from somewhere where you don't have to have a front number plate (which is just a few states in the USA IIRC?) and have a front end design that doesn't have anywhere appropriate to fit one. A Camaro ZL1, perhaps?
Import means a car make or model that is not officially sold in the UK.My understanding has always been that for a car to be legal without having a front number plate "because it's an import" it would have to not be homologated in the EU, have been imported from somewhere where you don't have to have a front number plate (which is just a few states in the USA IIRC?) and have a front end design that doesn't have anywhere appropriate to fit one. A Camaro ZL1, perhaps?
There are no front number plate exemptions for imports that I am aware of (happy to be corrected), only the letter size and spacing exemptions laid out under Section 14a of the RTA. I run bike sized letters and spacing as laid out in Section 14a. If it were legal to do so I'd get rid of it as the car looks far better without it as the front bumper is not designed to have one on the GT.
They either get away with it or just pay the fine and carry on.
surveyor_101 said:
seriously tempted to do this to avoid private parking firms with anpr double dip systems.
I cover the front plate on my car one day as I was visiting somewhere that gave me a double dip ticket again. I forgot to remove the thing for the rest of the day and no one pulled me over.
I carry a roll of black sticky tape for when I overstay.I cover the front plate on my car one day as I was visiting somewhere that gave me a double dip ticket again. I forgot to remove the thing for the rest of the day and no one pulled me over.
Digitalize said:
Best tip is to leave a used/cracked/scuffed one with some sticky pads stuck on the back, wipe the exposed pads so they're not sticky and leave it in the boot, can claim it fell off that day and you don't have the V5 on you to go get another. Might get you out of a fine, but it obviously won't work again.
I ran my Chimaera for the best part of 2 years without a front plate. In fairness it did get ripped off on a faded speed hump, along with the splitter, and was never replaced. The splitter went back on though...I was only spoken to once, in London, about it and said the same thing - just come off, and screw holes are now mis-shapen so it won't stay on.
Here we go:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/pdfs/u...
I didn't check if it's been updated however.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/pdfs/u...
I didn't check if it's been updated however.
swerni said:
Imports are not exempt.
It's non endorsable fine which was £60 but I believe went up to £100.
I didn't say they were. The only exemption some imports get is on the size and spacing requirements of the lettering (for the third time on this thread) if the number plate aperatures (or lack thereof) mean a standard size plate cannot be fitted.It's non endorsable fine which was £60 but I believe went up to £100.
My comment on the last line was reagrding not running one through choice.
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