Should have removed the flip plate.....
Discussion
Surely a flip-down plate (working or not) is illegal? It's a fair assumption that it is, no? Surely that must have entered your mind?
For all that officer knew you could be claiming it didn't work when actually it did, or you could have a sneaky way of making it look like it doesn't work. Anyway, I reckon simply having one fitted is probably an offence.
Good luck!
For all that officer knew you could be claiming it didn't work when actually it did, or you could have a sneaky way of making it look like it doesn't work. Anyway, I reckon simply having one fitted is probably an offence.
Good luck!
Right
I maybe wrong but my understanding is. You have a legal obligation to display the correct sized number plate. The mounting that it is displayed on is irrelevant. A 'flip' mounting is irrelevant even if it did work, the question is if you were caught trying to decieve the police, if they could show that you had used it then they would look at perjury or stopping a constable carrying out his juties. Yours doesn't work the bracket is a non issue.
Plenty of people have plates velcroed on especially where you do trackdays/shows etc this is not illegal.
As regards a non standard plate this is either an on the spot £30 fine or if to court upto £1000 and 3points. Not displaying a plate is only £30 and no points...
I personnally wouldn't worry, however I woudl remove the device as ultimately it doesn't give a good impression to a police officer when stopped.
I maybe wrong but my understanding is. You have a legal obligation to display the correct sized number plate. The mounting that it is displayed on is irrelevant. A 'flip' mounting is irrelevant even if it did work, the question is if you were caught trying to decieve the police, if they could show that you had used it then they would look at perjury or stopping a constable carrying out his juties. Yours doesn't work the bracket is a non issue.
Plenty of people have plates velcroed on especially where you do trackdays/shows etc this is not illegal.
As regards a non standard plate this is either an on the spot £30 fine or if to court upto £1000 and 3points. Not displaying a plate is only £30 and no points...
I personnally wouldn't worry, however I woudl remove the device as ultimately it doesn't give a good impression to a police officer when stopped.
This item is like a lot of other items, perfectly legal to own but not to use. BUT when I say use, I mean the flip part.
I can go and play rounders in the park, no problem.
I wrap the bat around someone's head, big problem.
If you weren't caught using the spinning part of the device, there is no crime.
I can go and play rounders in the park, no problem.
I wrap the bat around someone's head, big problem.
If you weren't caught using the spinning part of the device, there is no crime.
Other than not conforming to size of letters etc possible; -
Reg 11 RV (Display of Reg Marks) Regs 2001
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.
(3) A registration plate must not be fixed to a vehicle -
(a) by means of a screw, bolt or other fixing device of any type or colour,
(b) by the placing of a screw, bolt or other fixing device in any position, or
(c) in any other manner,
which has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters of the registration mark, which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which prevents or impairs the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.
Max fine £1000 No points
If capable of being flipped then photo image cannot be taken?
One will have to await the dreaded summons to see what it shoqws as the offence(s) committed.
dvd
Reg 11 RV (Display of Reg Marks) Regs 2001
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.
(3) A registration plate must not be fixed to a vehicle -
(a) by means of a screw, bolt or other fixing device of any type or colour,
(b) by the placing of a screw, bolt or other fixing device in any position, or
(c) in any other manner,
which has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters of the registration mark, which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which prevents or impairs the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.
Max fine £1000 No points
If capable of being flipped then photo image cannot be taken?
One will have to await the dreaded summons to see what it shoqws as the offence(s) committed.
dvd
Targarama said:
You may hear nothing from the Police at all. Of course it is the CPS who decide whether there is a case to prosecute, they may try to make an example of you.
Thought that too until at a pre-trial hearing 2 years ago when arguing with a particulary haughty specimen of CPS' finest over speed limits applicable to a dual purpose vehicle. This was 2nd of 4 PTH's. Having reported me the police simply ignored the case through 4 PTHs and a trial. She claimed that it was the police responsibility to decide whether to prosecute no CPS' and actually giggled when I suggested that most people thought it was the CPS who descided whether to prosecute a case in the public interest.At the trial the CPS guy on reading the file accepted my evidence and dropped the prosecution.
dont worry about the numberplate thing, he was making it up because he thought he'd found something to nick you for and then realised that he probably couldnt.
He will have taken the photo back to the station to show his mates and then realised there was no charge to answer for.
Just take the mechanism off your bike so you dont get repeatadly stopped for the same thing.
He will have taken the photo back to the station to show his mates and then realised there was no charge to answer for.
Just take the mechanism off your bike so you dont get repeatadly stopped for the same thing.
Edited by hman on Thursday 23 April 15:11
Lewy said:
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.
A friend of mine owns a GMC people carrier fitted with moveable number plates which convert into steps to access the roof. If you should inadvertently forget to return the plate to the vertical the plate is unfortunately unreadable.
Can't see how these devices are any different from the mechanism on your bike
freddytin said:
A friend of mine owns a GMC people carrier fitted with moveable number plates which convert into steps to access the roof. If you should inadvertently forget to return the plate to the vertical the plate is unfortunately unreadable.
Can't see how these devices are any different from the mechanism on your bike
one is fitted for a purpose the other is fitted to avoid the law
y2blade said:
freddytin said:
A friend of mine owns a GMC people carrier fitted with moveable number plates which convert into steps to access the roof. If you should inadvertently forget to return the plate to the vertical the plate is unfortunately unreadable.
Can't see how these devices are any different from the mechanism on your bike
one is fitted for a purpose the other is fitted to avoid the law
If not, then to all intents and purposes they are the same.
Paul_M3 said:
y2blade said:
freddytin said:
A friend of mine owns a GMC people carrier fitted with moveable number plates which convert into steps to access the roof. If you should inadvertently forget to return the plate to the vertical the plate is unfortunately unreadable.
Can't see how these devices are any different from the mechanism on your bike
one is fitted for a purpose the other is fitted to avoid the law
If not, then to all intents and purposes they are the same.
The other options have a use, so cannot, by inference, be intended to be used to avoid prosecution. there is too easy a rebuttal of the allegation of PCJ.
The bike one doesn't have any other use, it has no other use so could considered to be there to attempt to PCJ. Q&A's of the rider/owner would be needed to form a case IMO. Say the wrong thing, you are in the poo poo.
This would work for the GMC truck stopped with the plate flipped down and the driver stating he always drove like that to avoid the cameras - stupid, unlikely, but you get my point?
The decision on whether or not this would be the case would be for a court.
davemac250 said:
Paul_M3 said:
y2blade said:
freddytin said:
A friend of mine owns a GMC people carrier fitted with moveable number plates which convert into steps to access the roof. If you should inadvertently forget to return the plate to the vertical the plate is unfortunately unreadable.
Can't see how these devices are any different from the mechanism on your bike
one is fitted for a purpose the other is fitted to avoid the law
If not, then to all intents and purposes they are the same.
The other options have a use, so cannot, by inference, be intended to be used to avoid prosecution. there is too easy a rebuttal of the allegation of PCJ.
The bike one doesn't have any other use, it has no other use so could considered to be there to attempt to PCJ. Q&A's of the rider/owner would be needed to form a case IMO. Say the wrong thing, you are in the poo poo.
This would work for the GMC truck stopped with the plate flipped down and the driver stating he always drove like that to avoid the cameras - stupid, unlikely, but you get my point?
The decision on whether or not this would be the case would be for a court.
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