Are 3D Carbon Domed Registration Plates legal?

[streaky]

FWIW, Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 561 The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 has nothing to say about 3D characters - Streaky

[007 VXR]

BonzoG said:

The way I understand it all depends on your definition/application of "3D".

From what I can gleam from craigsplates and the like:

- The legal/acceptable "3D" refers just to a "3D Effect" (i.e. shaded) version of the standard Charles Wright font. (See right ->)








- Your plates don't have "3D Effect" letters - they have actual raised/domed letters. Yes, they're really 3-Dimensional but I think this might be where they fall foul of the law.


Giantic caveat in that I don't have a bloody clue if this is right or not as I can't be arsed looking anything up at this time in the morning after a nightshift, and wouldn't know where to look anyways . But I reckon that might be what's up. And this turns out to be right, then the law is really quite retarded.

iwas pulled over last year for having the shaded plates
but was politle told to just change them to solid black

[Mr2Mike]

OnTheOverrun said:

The regs say black, not stripes in alternating 'shades of black'!

If that were the case the 3D effect ones wouldn't be legal as they have two different shades.

[OnTheOverrun]

Mr2Mike said:

OnTheOverrun said:

The regs say black, not stripes in alternating 'shades of black'!

If that were the case the 3D effect ones wouldn't be legal as they have two different shades.

It wouldn't because there is a specific rule that allows for a 3D variation of the type you refer to, but there isn't one to allow for diagonal stripes on the characters.

[Mill Wheel]

^^^^^^

[Dwight VanDriver]

On a 'show'vehicle, i.e. one not used on a public road you can have any type of Reg Plate, but once on the road they have to comply with the Regs as quoted above.

Those Regs say in the case of a vehicle first registered on or after 1st September 2001 the registration plate must conform to the requirements set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2.

Part 1 Schedule 2 states:

Where the registration mark is displayed on the front of the vehicle, it must have BLACK characters on a white background.

Where the registration mark is displayed on the back of the vehicle, it must have BLACK characters on a yellow background.

In the case of a registration mark displayed -

(a) on a registration plate fixed to a vehicle first registered on or after 1st September 2001, or

(b) on a new registration plate fixed to a vehicle on or after 1st September 2001 to replace a plate previously fixed thereto (except where the vehicle was first registered before 1st January 1973),

each of the characters of the mark must be in the prescribed font.

The prescribed font in the Regs has has all black colour not a mixture which those shown in the photo has.

Could it also be that this is a factor?:

A registration plate must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.

All in all I go that they are illegal. (but I am not a wigged one)

dvd

[Mr2Mike]

OnTheOverrun said:

Mr2Mike said:

OnTheOverrun said:

The regs say black, not stripes in alternating 'shades of black'!

If that were the case the 3D effect ones wouldn't be legal as they have two different shades.

It wouldn't because there is a specific rule that allows for a 3D variation of the type you refer to, but there isn't one to allow for diagonal stripes on the characters.

Where is this rule defined? I've had a scan through the "The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001" and whilst the plate, font and spacing are all very carefully defined, I couldn't find anything on 3D variations. Is this a DVLA interpretation of the Statutory Instrument?

[OnTheOverrun]

Mr2Mike said:

OnTheOverrun said:

Mr2Mike said:

OnTheOverrun said:

The regs say black, not stripes in alternating 'shades of black'!

If that were the case the 3D effect ones wouldn't be legal as they have two different shades.

It wouldn't because there is a specific rule that allows for a 3D variation of the type you refer to, but there isn't one to allow for diagonal stripes on the characters.

Where is this rule defined? I've had a scan through the "The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001" and whilst the plate, font and spacing are all very carefully defined, I couldn't find anything on 3D variations. Is this a DVLA interpretation of the Statutory Instrument?

Yes, if you ask the DVLA to define the allowed '3D Variation' they send you the following picture:



according to the MB forum when they enquired.

[bite-me]

am pretty certain there ROAD LEGAL ones say that and the SHOW plates also say for SHOW USE ONLY

TOPTON said:

Puff the magic.. said:

147GTA said:

[quote=Puff the
magic..]

147GTA said:

If carbon fibre lettering is illegal, why are Halfords selling them, flat carbon fibre lettering that is, to the public on 'road legal' plates? Surely selling dodgy plates as legal ones would see them losing there license to print plates fairly quickly and possibly receiving a large fine? I don't see a large company taking a risk like that unless they were sure.

Perhaps the law only applies to displaying them on vehicles rather than supplying them.

They will fit them for you for a small charge as well....

That still doesn't bring them into the "displaying" section of the law as that is down to the driver at the time.

If Halfords are selling them and they are illegal, then the argument of 'its not them displaying them' isn't correct. They need to advise the customer that they are 'SHOW PLATES ONLY AND NOT FOR ROAD USE'. Surely they would not fit anything to a car that is illegal. They (Halfords) would be considered to know more than the average person about law and fitment, being the suppliers and anything they fit would be legally their responsibility.

[147GTA]

I've just been to Halfords and they've got four different types of lettering, all flat but only one is a solid black: (Apologies for the poor image but I only had my iphone)



Shockingly I was served by a very helpful lady who was adament they were all completely legal and Halfords will only sell road legal plates, provided you supply the correct documentation, otherwise they could obviously be sued by someone if they got a ticket from the police for a plate sold to them by Halfords.

Edited by 147GTA on Monday 10th May 17:40

[Tiggsy]

Heres how you dont get nicked for plates.....go look at ten other cars in your street. Find the style that most people have (in most decent streets, everyone will have the same style....rougher/chavier the area the more variations you'll see) - go a and get plates that look like the most common one.

If there are so many variations that no one style is the obvious one to pick...move.

[147GTA]

Tiggsy said:

Heres how you dont get nicked for plates.....go look at ten other cars in your street. Find the style that most people have (in most decent streets, everyone will have the same style....rougher/chavier the area the more variations you'll see) - go a and get plates that look like the most common one.

If there are so many variations that no one style is the obvious one to pick...move.

Don't take this the wrong way but while I appreciate the advice I'm not confused about what plates to get but I do want to know whether the plates the ticket was issued for are actually legal or not.

[Mr2Mike]

OnTheOverrun said:

Yes, if you ask the DVLA to define the allowed '3D Variation' they send you the following picture:

Unless someone can point to some actual law then this is seems likely to be the DVLAs opinion/advice, a bit like their interpretation of the legality of after-market HID conversions which is often trotted out as law.

[cambiker71]

We had a MOT special notice today mentioning the new changes here's a PDF copy of it from the VOSA website, I'm afraid they are illegal right now, but won't be on June 6th. Section 6.3 (right at the bottom of page 5)

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Special%20No...

[drew.h]

I'd say you have 2 options here.

1)TIUTA, buy new plates and pay the fine
2) Go to the place where you bought the plates and demand either
. a) £60 and new 'legal' plates
. b) Letter from the manager, that you can take to court, stating the plates are legal and where the manager gets his information from

If I was in your situation I'd aim for 2a.

[HellDiver]

If raised letters are illegal, how come my stamped aluminium plates, complete with raised lettering, are totally legal?

http://www.dubmeister.co.uk/webshop/uk-legal-plate...

[timmo]

Keep a set of Normal plates in the boot
if you are stopped be polite explain you left on the " Show Plates " and will not do it again sir and bobs your uncle

[Mill Wheel]

cambiker71 said:

We had a MOT special notice today mentioning the new changes here's a PDF copy of it from the VOSA website, I'm afraid they are illegal right now, but won't be on June 6th. Section 6.3 (right at the bottom of page 5)

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Special%20No...

OP says already been through THREE MOTs - are you implying that MOT rules reflect the law as it stands?

[Mr2Mike]

cambiker71 said:

We had a MOT special notice today mentioning the new changes here's a PDF copy of it from the VOSA website, I'm afraid they are illegal right now, but won't be on June 6th.

Surely this is just a clarification for MOT testers, it's not a change in the law.

[cambiker71]

So you're saying they could fail a MOT but still be legal? Personally i see no problem and wouldn't fail them so long as the spacing and font type is ok, the new ruling just clarifies a little common sense.