No Front Number Plate
Discussion
I know there are a few Vet owners out there who are driving about without a front number plate. Well take heed.
Had a trip to North Wales this weekend and after a nice 180 mile journey got stopped by the BIB about 200 yds from my hotel. Having shown them that I had the plate in the back of the car and it had been left off after visiting a car show and normally the plate is replaced etc. etc. they very kindly allowed me to continue my journey with only a £30 fine and no points added to my licence.
So be warned my assumption was that had I not had the plate with me and not been able to convince them that it was an oversight then points would have been awarded!
Had a trip to North Wales this weekend and after a nice 180 mile journey got stopped by the BIB about 200 yds from my hotel. Having shown them that I had the plate in the back of the car and it had been left off after visiting a car show and normally the plate is replaced etc. etc. they very kindly allowed me to continue my journey with only a £30 fine and no points added to my licence.
So be warned my assumption was that had I not had the plate with me and not been able to convince them that it was an oversight then points would have been awarded!
Ah that's what I like consistency across all police forces. Its great to know we are all being treated the same.
Not that I think its got anything to do with who is the chief constable of a particular area or their view of using the motorist as a revenue stream.
>> Edited by shagga on Monday 27th September 13:59
Not that I think its got anything to do with who is the chief constable of a particular area or their view of using the motorist as a revenue stream.
>> Edited by shagga on Monday 27th September 13:59
Well I guess the obvious question is why do it?
I did have my plate mounted on the black plastic thing supplied by Frosts, which I found marginally less unnattractive than just placing the plate into the aperture. Earlier this year though I bought the clear acrylic cover from Ecklers. To my mind this looks A1. It follows the line of the bodywork and the the plate looks snug inside rather than like a pea rattling around in the pod. I know Richard tried and didn't like the cover, complaining about water and crap getting in behind the cover but I have to say this is something I have not suffered from.
I did have my plate mounted on the black plastic thing supplied by Frosts, which I found marginally less unnattractive than just placing the plate into the aperture. Earlier this year though I bought the clear acrylic cover from Ecklers. To my mind this looks A1. It follows the line of the bodywork and the the plate looks snug inside rather than like a pea rattling around in the pod. I know Richard tried and didn't like the cover, complaining about water and crap getting in behind the cover but I have to say this is something I have not suffered from.
This is the way I did mine, with brass brackets affixed to the lower cover retaining bolts so I can have my stainless steel inserts at the front. As long as you keep the relevant legislation in your glove box, you can get by.
You can't have scalextric size number plates because they have to be motorcycle size. I found when I was stopped in the Z28 that once you produced the Act, the police officers would assume that the plate was a motorcycle size one without actually measuring it. I haven't measured it and will bask in deliberate ignorance so it doesn't look like I'm lying.
Recommend www.autoreg.net for almost instant next-day delivery of number plates. Truly incredible speed in any size.
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 29th September 11:56
You can't have scalextric size number plates because they have to be motorcycle size. I found when I was stopped in the Z28 that once you produced the Act, the police officers would assume that the plate was a motorcycle size one without actually measuring it. I haven't measured it and will bask in deliberate ignorance so it doesn't look like I'm lying.
Recommend www.autoreg.net for almost instant next-day delivery of number plates. Truly incredible speed in any size.
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 29th September 11:56
yellowshark454 said:
I know Richard tried and didn't like the cover, complaining about water and crap getting in behind.
I had the same problem and abandoned the clear cover in favor of a body color surround. They're available from Ecklers, Mid-America etc tho' a bit pricey for what you get.
I have got the clear cover and plate back on the front of the car but it looks S*I*E and spoils the whole look of the front. I have been toying with the idea of a bike sized plate but don't want to risk it again without the documentation to hand.
Once I get that printed out then I think that will be the way to go
>> Edited by shagga on Wednesday 29th September 12:46
There's stuff about the requirements on the dvla page:
www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm
It seems fairly clear that motorcycle-size letters are fine as long as the car isn't type approved and it's not possible to fit a standard plate... gives all the dimensions etc. Couldn't see anything about the actual requirement for the size of the plate.
-kenski
www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm
It seems fairly clear that motorcycle-size letters are fine as long as the car isn't type approved and it's not possible to fit a standard plate... gives all the dimensions etc. Couldn't see anything about the actual requirement for the size of the plate.
-kenski
That's exactly right and strictly has the curious effect that a Euro vette shouldn't use a small front plate (being type approved) whereas an identical Federal vette can (being an import so not type approved). Happily Vettes are so scarce and so obviously "American" that it's unlikely to be a problem so long as you have a half sensible plate on the car.
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