Number Plate Format

Author
Discussion

AMDHIL

Original Poster:

43 posts

133 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Hi

Ive been summoned to court due to the spacing on my number plate being 22mm in place of 33mm. This was spotted by an off duty police officer from the pavement whilst I was travelling at 40MPH whom reported me.

My mitigation is that I knew that the plate was incorrect however my previous correct plate had broken and consequently I had this very slightly incorrect plate on for a approx 2 weeks. (I still have the original broken plate)

I sent a letter and cheque for £100 and explained that I believed it was unfair to ask me to pay £100 when everyone else gets warning letter, the police responded with a court summons.

I would like to present all the mitigating issues as I believe I'm being targeted by the police as consequence of proving a police officer to be a liar using on board CCTV (separate incident)

My question is if I am convicted of having a none compliant number plate then:

Could I be given points even though none compliant number plate is none endorsable?

The court summons was sent in excess of 6 months of the date of the incident by 20 days, will the case still be heard in court?

Will I have a criminal record if I am convicted, and how bad is this?

Thanks for any help

MDH



p1esk

4,914 posts

195 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
AMDHIL said:
Hi

Ive been summoned to court due to the spacing on my number plate being 22mm in place of 33mm. This was spotted by an off duty police officer from the pavement whilst I was travelling at 40MPH whom reported me.

My mitigation is that I knew that the plate was incorrect however my previous correct plate had broken and consequently I had this very slightly incorrect plate on for a approx 2 weeks. (I still have the original broken plate)

I sent a letter and cheque for £100 and explained that I believed it was unfair to ask me to pay £100 when everyone else gets warning letter, the police responded with a court summons.

I would like to present all the mitigating issues as I believe I'm being targeted by the police as consequence of proving a police officer to be a liar using on board CCTV (separate incident)

My question is if I am convicted of having a none compliant number plate then:

Could I be given points even though none compliant number plate is none endorsable?

The court summons was sent in excess of 6 months of the date of the incident by 20 days, will the case still be heard in court?

Will I have a criminal record if I am convicted, and how bad is this?

Thanks for any help

MDH
WTF is the world coming to? That off duty plod is obviously short of something useful to do.

Sorry I can't answer your specific questions, but this sort of thing is quite ridiculous. We've simply got far too much government, and far too many people devising petty little rules and regulations to be complied with. A lot of this stuff is largely a waste of time, and our money.

Quite frankly I think it is an outrage that you should be prosecuted for a trifling matter like this. Good luck.

Best wishes all,
Dave.




Durzel

12,232 posts

167 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Your "mitigation" sounds very weak to be honest.

Knowing that the plate was illegal is hardly mitigation. The fact you had a legal plate at some point in the past is academic. It takes no time at all to get replacement plates - certainly less than 2 weeks.

Likewise it being unfair that others get warnings or vehicle defect forms instead of fines is not really here nor there. Discretion by definition doesn't always go your way.

As for being targeted or whatever because of previous interactions - what difference does that make when you've admitted committing an offence anyway?

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Durzel said:
Your "mitigation" sounds very weak to be honest.

Knowing that the plate was illegal is hardly mitigation. The fact you had a legal plate at some point in the past is academic. It takes no time at all to get replacement plates - certainly less than 2 weeks.

Likewise it being unfair that others get warnings or vehicle defect forms instead of fines is not really here nor there. Discretion by definition doesn't always go your way.

As for being targeted or whatever because of previous interactions - what difference does that make when you've admitted committing an offence anyway?
Absolutely, bang to rights. Criminals like this need to be hit hard and I can't think of a better use of police resources. rolleyes

At least it shows up the myth of them being under pressure. If they were they wouldn't fk about with these trivialities.

Jon1967x

7,175 posts

123 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
There is nearly always more to these stories than we're bring told. Offered a fixed penalty, paid it and still being taken to court? Hmmm...

Snowboy

8,028 posts

150 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
I think we're not getting the full story here.

I'm not really sure how you could pay the fine AND get a court summons.
I guess it depends on exactly what the letter said or how you'd filled out the cheque.

I would guess the altered spacing significantly changed the look of the plate to such a degree it was very easily noticed and remembered by an off duty cop.

The six months thing is a red herring - you were contacted in plenty of time. .

The comment about 'police revenge' may have some truth.
But, another way to look at it is that if someone gets known to the police then the police watch out for them.
Are you a repeat traffic offender?
Are you a repeat customer of her majesties constabulary?


AMDHIL

Original Poster:

43 posts

133 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Snowboy said:
I think we're not getting the full story here.

I'm not really sure how you could pay the fine AND get a court summons.
I guess it depends on exactly what the letter said or how you'd filled out the cheque.

I would guess the altered spacing significantly changed the look of the plate to such a degree it was very easily noticed and remembered by an off duty cop.

The six months thing is a red herring - you were contacted in plenty of time. .

The comment about 'police revenge' may have some truth.
But, another way to look at it is that if someone gets known to the police then the police watch out for them.
Are you a repeat traffic offender?
Are you a repeat customer of her majesties constabulary?
I sent a cheque but it was not cashed, business cheque and I have a stub

I have clean licence I have never had any points despite holding a licence since the of 17, I'm now 30

The only brush with the law I had was when a police officer said I pulled out in front of him, I was speeding, and driving dangerously, the only reason i was not prosecuted was because I have a onboard DVR recorder and I showed the footage to the officers senior inspector, in fear of repercussion i did not make a formal complaint but a note has been stored on the police database.

I drive a very distinct car (Bentley Continental)

I'm a IT professional in managerial position

Side note:
Ive recently legally evicted tenants from a house i rent out, Had I not been afraid of a criminal record I could have had these tenants evicted for £50 in much shorter period. The legal process cost me over £3000.

Im genuine, but I don't mind you being sceptical, i hope the above clears things up

The law bullies people that respect it, I could have left the broken number plate on and no one would have battered and eye lid despite half a letter being missing, (the reason I had the invalid plate was because I used to have it on an old car about 3 years ago and was asked to take it off by the police)




Edited by AMDHIL on Wednesday 16th July 08:57

V8LM

5,166 posts

208 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
AMDHIL said:
I sent a cheque but it was not cashed, business cheque and I have a stub

I have clean licence I have never had any points despite holding a licence since the of 17, I'm now 30

The only brush with the law I had was when a police officer said I pulled out in front of him, I was speeding, and driving dangerously, the only reason i was not prosecuted was because I have a onboard DVR recorder and I showed the footage to the officers senior inspector, in fear of repercussion i did not make a formal complaint but a note has been stored on the police database.

I drive a very distinct car (Bentley Continental)

I'm a IT professional in managerial position

Side note:
Ive recently legally evicted tenants from a house i rent out, Had I not been afraid of a criminal record I could have had these tenants evicted for £50 in much shorter period. The legal process cost me over £3000.

Im genuine, but I don't mind you being sceptical, i hope the above clears things up

The law bullies people that respect it, I could have left the broken number plate on and no one would have battered and eye lid despite half a letter being missing, (the reason I had the invalid plate was because I used to have it on an old car about 3 years ago and was asked to take it off by the police)




Edited by AMDHIL on Wednesday 16th July 08:57
This may be your problem.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Did the FPN state cheques were fine? If so, why wasn't it cashed by the Central Ticket Office?

AMDHIL said:
The law bullies people that respect it.
It's easier to blame something / someone else rather than having to accept responsibility.

Having said that, if I were that bothered about a plate whilst off-duty (I wouldn't be), I'd probably pop around to the RK's address and sort it informally (if possible). But then that's the lottery one plays when picking and choosing which road traffic laws to comply with.




Snowboy

8,028 posts

150 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
You drive a distinctive car with an illegal plate.
You got spotted.

That's all there is to it.
You could have just paid the fine.

I think your angry letter might have bought you more trouble than you expected.

You seem to a fairly confident and forthright person who doesn't mind voicing an opinion.
I'd suggest you not take that persona into court with you as dodgy plates won't get you a record but contempt of court will.

Put another way.
You've dug yourself into a hole.
Stop digging.
wink

AMDHIL

Original Poster:

43 posts

133 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
La Liga said:
t's easier to blame something / someone else rather than having to accept responsibility.

Having said that, if I were that bothered about a plate whilst off-duty (I wouldn't be), I'd probably pop around to the RK's address and sort it informally (if possible). But then that's the lottery one plays when picking and choosing which road traffic laws to comply with.
How would you explain the incident which I caught on camera?

7db

6,058 posts

229 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
AMDHIL said:
Will I have a criminal record if I am convicted, and how bad is this?
You won't get a "criminal record" for a construction and use conviction. You will have to notify insurers.

Snowboy

8,028 posts

150 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
AMDHIL said:
How would you explain the incident which I caught on camera?
I'd say it was odd.
Showing dashcam footage to a chief inspector who decides not to prosecute doesn't exactly sound like the way due process normally works.
It sounds like half a story really.

At best it's a silly traffic cop and a sensible CI.
At worse it's a bunch of wibble as there was never going to be a prosecution anyhow.

Either way;
If you're going to drive a distinctive car the plod will give you a second glance.
If you decide you want to rand and complain then plod will invite you to do so to a judge. smile



omegac

358 posts

218 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Whatever happened to the vehicle defect rectification scheme?

It should have been dealt with as La Liga said, nice and proportionately.

I fear driving a Bentley you may just have come across a green eyed monster frown

Snowboy

8,028 posts

150 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
omegac said:
Whatever happened to the vehicle defect rectification scheme?

It should have been dealt with as La Liga said, nice and proportionately.

I fear driving a Bentley you may just have come across a green eyed monster frown
I would say it's more that it's distinctive rather than angry envy.
A cheap corsa with blacked out windows, dodgy body kit, big exhaust and illegal plate would get noticed too.

eccles

13,720 posts

221 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
I got an advisory on my last MOT for my front number plate (part of a letter had been jet washed off). I drove from the garage to my local car shop, walked out 7 minutes later with a new number plate. Drove home, drilled a couple of holes in the new plate and screwed it on. All this within about half an hour of it being snagged.
Instead of faffing around fitting dodgy plates, why not get a new plate or drive your car to a garage and get them to fit you one.... it's really not very hard.

agtlaw

6,680 posts

205 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
AMDHIL said:
Hi

My question is if I am convicted of having a none compliant number plate then:

Could I be given points even though none compliant number plate is none endorsable?

The court summons was sent in excess of 6 months of the date of the incident by 20 days, will the case still be heard in court?

Will I have a criminal record if I am convicted, and how bad is this?

Thanks for any help

MDH
No points. Income based fine - maximum £xxxx. Prosecution costs. Victim surcharge.

Information must be laid within 6 months. Summons can be issued later. These dates should be on the paperwork. If the information is laid outside of 6 months then that would be fatal to the prosecution.

All motoring offences are criminal offences. Yes. It's a minor offence of the type only recorded by the DVLA (not on PNC). Not something to worry about.

Good idea to attend court - doesn't seem any obvious reason why a fixed penalty wasn't paid. You should endeavour to persuade the court to fine you an amount equivalent to a fixed penalty.

berlintaxi

8,535 posts

172 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Who owns the car? You were trying to pay with a company cheque, is it their car, if so I wouldn't worry about it.

AMDHIL

Original Poster:

43 posts

133 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
eccles said:
I got an advisory on my last MOT for my front number plate (part of a letter had been jet washed off). I drove from the garage to my local car shop, walked out 7 minutes later with a new number plate. Drove home, drilled a couple of holes in the new plate and screwed it on. All this within about half an hour of it being snagged.
Instead of faffing around fitting dodgy plates, why not get a new plate or drive your car to a garage and get them to fit you one.... it's really not very hard.
Because the fault was so minor, anyone normal it would not have bothered, definitely does not constitute a off duty officer reporting the fault. Its undoubtedly envy!

AMDHIL

Original Poster:

43 posts

133 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
berlintaxi said:
Who owns the car? You were trying to pay with a company cheque, is it their car, if so I wouldn't worry about it.
Its my company