Should have removed the flip plate.....
Discussion
I've owned my bike now for over 7 years which came with a rear number plate that flipped over with a press of a button on the handle bar. The plate has not worked as it was designed to, as demonstrated to the trafflic officer when stopped recently for a routine check. However he decided that the plate could be manually moved while off the bike in a manner that would render the plate unreadable thus deciding a court should decide my fate.
I know i should have removed this plate a long time ago and i'm now left wondering what the outcome may be.
Anyone like to guess how long i'll be locked up for ?
I know i should have removed this plate a long time ago and i'm now left wondering what the outcome may be.
Anyone like to guess how long i'll be locked up for ?
Edited by Lewy on Wednesday 22 April 22:44
The motorcycle traffic officer said that the plate was illegal giving an example that I could spot have spotted him, altered the plate and then rode off and he wouldn’t have been able to catch me. He then took some photos and said I would be hearing from the courts. I was issued with a producer to take my licence into the nearest police station but that was only paperwork I received.
Nigel Worc's said:
The plate on my bike can be moved manualy, .... I can remove the two bolts that hold it on !
Was it a slow day for a copper perhaps ?
I cannot imagine what this has to do with the police, are they going to insist the redg number is somehow etched on next ?
Was it a slow day for a copper perhaps ?
I cannot imagine what this has to do with the police, are they going to insist the redg number is somehow etched on next ?
I would have to get off the bike to manually alter it so yes, similar to what you have mentioned. The two traffic officers were stopping many bikes to check them over and had had a successful evening handing out fines for small number plates. One of the officers didn't seem very interested but the other was very unsure of whether to seize the bike there and then.
Lewy said:
The motorcycle traffic officer said that the plate was illegal giving an example that I could spot have spotted him, altered the plate and then rode off and he wouldn’t have been able to catch me. He then took some photos and said I would be hearing from the courts. I was issued with a producer to take my licence into the nearest police station but that was only paperwork I received.
Did he not saying anything along the lines of "I am reporting you for....." or "You will be reported for.....".Sheriff JWPepper said:
Lewy said:
The motorcycle traffic officer said that the plate was illegal giving an example that I could spot have spotted him, altered the plate and then rode off and he wouldn’t have been able to catch me. He then took some photos and said I would be hearing from the courts. I was issued with a producer to take my licence into the nearest police station but that was only paperwork I received.
Did he not saying anything along the lines of "I am reporting you for....." or "You will be reported for.....".This number plate has passed every MOT for the last 7 years of my ownership so i really never considered that i would be expecting a court summons after being checked by the police.
Edited by Lewy on Thursday 23 April 08:29
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Nigel Worc's said:
I cannot imagine what this has to do with the police
Really? Are you going to start reporting people because their vehicle is capable of exceeding the speed limit ? they can turn the lights off and it may get dark sometime ?
I could remove my plate(s) at any time whilst my vehicle is stationary, until I do, and drive/ride on a public highway I'd imagine I hadn't commited any offence ..... unless you know otherwise
I should have put more info in my original post.
One of my mates in the group was fined for his plate being too small. Mine is larger than his but still not the correct size, the next size down that you see on many bikes that the police have for many years ignored because they are still readable. The officer was not that interested in the size, it was the fact that it could be altered that amazed him.
So, i imagine that i will be prosecuted for not having the correct size number plate, letters, and the fact it can be altered while off the bike to be unreadable.
I expect a fine will be imposed for the plate not being the correct size, £30 in my mates case, but since my case is going to court i could expect much worse. When i was stopped the plate was clearly visible, as it has been for years.
How does it work within the system now ? Does the officer refer the offence to a prosecution to decide a penalty for me to accept ?
Lewy said:
I should have put more info in my original post.
One of my mates in the group was fined for his plate being too small. Mine is larger than his but still not the correct size, the next size down that you see on many bikes that the police have for many years ignored because they are still readable. The officer was not that interested in the size, it was the fact that it could be altered that amazed him.
So, i imagine that i will be prosecuted for not having the correct size number plate, letters, and the fact it can be altered while off the bike to be unreadable.
I expect a fine will be imposed for the plate not being the correct size, £30 in my mates case, but since my case is going to court i could expect much worse. When i was stopped the plate was clearly visible, as it has been for years.
How does it work within the system now ? Does the officer refer the offence to a prosecution to decide a penalty for me to accept?
Okay, these photos the officer took - did he photo the back of the bike without touching the plate? Did he move the plate or ask you to move it and then photograph it?One of my mates in the group was fined for his plate being too small. Mine is larger than his but still not the correct size, the next size down that you see on many bikes that the police have for many years ignored because they are still readable. The officer was not that interested in the size, it was the fact that it could be altered that amazed him.
So, i imagine that i will be prosecuted for not having the correct size number plate, letters, and the fact it can be altered while off the bike to be unreadable.
I expect a fine will be imposed for the plate not being the correct size, £30 in my mates case, but since my case is going to court i could expect much worse. When i was stopped the plate was clearly visible, as it has been for years.
How does it work within the system now ? Does the officer refer the offence to a prosecution to decide a penalty for me to accept?
Okay, these photos the officer took - did he photo the back of the bike without touching the plate? Did he move the plate or ask you to move it and then photograph it?
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The officer took photos of the back of the bike while moving the plate around taking three photos in total. I was not asked to move the plate while the photos were taken so i guess that if the officer had not tampered with my motorcycle the plate would have been visible at all times.
When stopped he did ask me to operate the plate which i explained i couldn't as it had never worked. At no time did i touch the plate while with the officer.
Lewy, if it was working did it flip up to the horizontal to become unreadable, or do it flip 180 degrees and display an obscured number?
What ever, if you can prove that the device was not capable of functioning (as the officer witnessed), I can't see that you've got anything to answer for. The previous owner fitted the device, and you disabled it (or didn't need to bother because it didn't operate anyway) which keeps you within the law?
What ever, if you can prove that the device was not capable of functioning (as the officer witnessed), I can't see that you've got anything to answer for. The previous owner fitted the device, and you disabled it (or didn't need to bother because it didn't operate anyway) which keeps you within the law?
deeps said:
Lewy, if it was working did it flip up to the horizontal to become unreadable, or do it flip 180 degrees and display an obscured number?
What ever, if you can prove that the device was not capable of functioning (as the officer witnessed), I can't see that you've got anything to answer for. The previous owner fitted the device, and you disabled it (or didn't need to bother because it didn't operate anyway) which keeps you within the law?
It's the type that should flip over and leave a blank yellow face with no numbers or letters.What ever, if you can prove that the device was not capable of functioning (as the officer witnessed), I can't see that you've got anything to answer for. The previous owner fitted the device, and you disabled it (or didn't need to bother because it didn't operate anyway) which keeps you within the law?
The officer witnessed the device not working as it was intended but he said i could manually move the plate by hand.
In my very humble opinion, I think you will have a good argument to get off, IF you are charged.
As long as you were displaying the correct number plate when they stopped you, and they have no evidence of it being used (and the fact that the device is "disabled/broken" backs that up), you could quite reasonably argue it's for when you go on track days (for example) or any reason at all. As long as the visible/real number plate is legal.
As long as you were displaying the correct number plate when they stopped you, and they have no evidence of it being used (and the fact that the device is "disabled/broken" backs that up), you could quite reasonably argue it's for when you go on track days (for example) or any reason at all. As long as the visible/real number plate is legal.
MattYorke said:
In my very humble opinion, I think you will have a good argument to get off, IF you are charged.
As long as you were displaying the correct number plate when they stopped you, and they have no evidence of it being used (and the fact that the device is "disabled/broken" backs that up), you could quite reasonably argue it's for when you go on track days (for example) or any reason at all. As long as the visible/real number plate is legal.
When you say "IF you are charged", do officers/prosecution drop certain cases after reviewing the evidence collected at the roadside ?As long as you were displaying the correct number plate when they stopped you, and they have no evidence of it being used (and the fact that the device is "disabled/broken" backs that up), you could quite reasonably argue it's for when you go on track days (for example) or any reason at all. As long as the visible/real number plate is legal.
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