Numbers washed off my number plate!!

[mcskiver]

Hi, i'm new here, and have a bit of a weird problem!

I got my car washed yesterday, and discovered today that the pressure washer took almost all of the numbers and letters off my front plate...

I've got to drive from St Albans to Norwich tomorrow (100+ miles) and I think it's pretty unlikely i'll make it all the way there without getting stopped by the Police.

Any ideas what I should / could do about this? I start a new job tomorrow which means a couple of days in Norwich, so not going isn't much of an option...

I've sent my V5 off to the DVLA to change my address too, so Halfords told me today I can't get a replacement plate! WTF?? I've got the car, the insurance documentation, the service history, the car obviously with an intact rear plate, and my photo licence.

I don't fancy getting a fine, but i'm not sure what I can do but risk it and hope for a friendly copper....

[Hooli]

insulting tape?
im surprised halfrauds cant do it from the newkeeper part of the V5.

[sadako]

Snap the plate, £30 fine and no points for a broken plate versus a defaced plate which comes under "going equipped to steal" iirc. If a more knowledgable person comes on here and confirms this I would appreciate it.

No chance you can get a new plate in time?

[Spokey]

Hooli said:

insulting tape?

Yep. Call it a .

[bmwdrivernigel]

Spokey said:

Hooli said:

insulting tape?

Yep. Call it a .

Classic

[Hooli]

Spokey said:

Hooli said:

insulting tape?

Yep. Call it a .

i always call it insulting tape, cant remember why now

[bimsb6]

doubt you will even see a copper let alone one that will be arsed to pull you ,don't worry about .
or even better leave it like and run a book on how long you can get away with it

[sadako]

Here's one. Get on the fancyplates site, make up a plate on the screen, screenshot it and print it out lifesize. Cut the letters out, overlay that on the reflective backing and paint the letters back on in the correct font.

[GreenV8S]

sadako said:

a defaced plate which comes under "going equipped to steal" iirc.

WTF?

I don't see what offence there could be from having the correct registration number shown legibly on the number plate with the required character size and spacing.

[mcskiver]

Cheers for the super quick replies - no hanging about on here!

I can't get a new plate before I leave. I've got a 2 1/2 hour drive, and need to be in Norwich for about 9-9.30am tomorrow morning.

What is "insulting tape"? I know i'm probably being a muppet here, but i've no idea what that is...

My missus called the local police earlier, and they said if she / I really need to drive the car, and I did get stopped, I "might" be OK... She certainly didn't stress that I shouldn't drive it.

I'm going to stick a piece of paper in the windscreen with the reg in. I thought of taping that over the real plate, but I think that would probably open me up to actually trying to conceal my plate, and is probably the worst thing I can do!

Cheers anyway. Any more suggestions, or anyone with experience of this kind of thing, would be appreciated!

[Hooli]

insulting = insluating tape. it was the first black tape i could think of to make letters from.
or a black marker would do as good.

[davido140]

GreenV8S said:

sadako said:

a defaced plate which comes under "going equipped to steal" iirc.

WTF?

I don't see what offence there could be from having the correct registration number shown legibly on the number plate with the required character size and spacing.

dodgy/fake/slightly modified plates are often used to nick petrol (avoid CCTV/ANPR etc). If you're pulled and the BiB thinks you're a bit of a shifty they may well nick you for going equipped to steal.

Same principal as skulking around a housing estate at 4am wearing a balaclava with a crowbar inside your jacket.

Edited by davido140 on Sunday 17th February 22:55

[GreenV8S]

davido140 said:

dodgy/fake/slightly modified plates are often used to nick petrol (avoid CCTV/ANPR etc). If you're pulled and the BiB thinks you're a bit of a shifty they may well nick you for going equipped to steal.

Perhaps they are, and I can see how at first glance Bib suspicions could be aroused by a home made number plate, but I absolutely fail to see how any offence has been committed if you have the correct registration number shown legibly with the right size and character spacing. And if they did look into it then the OP has a reasonable and credible explanation for doing it. (By the way, I'm puzzled how it happened. Aren't the numbers usually behind a clear plastic layer?)

[mcskiver]

I have absolutely no idea, other than it must have been from the pressure washer.

That's my worry though, even though i've got my documents, i'm not doing anything particularly dodgy etc, it's not the most believable story in the world is it? The plate itself is still a bit sticky, but all but half of one number is completely missing...bizarre.

I'm just going to have to chance it in the morning and hope for the best...

[davido140]

mcskiver said:

I have absolutely no idea, other than it must have been from the pressure washer.

That's my worry though, even though i've got my documents, i'm not doing anything particularly dodgy etc, it's not the most believable story in the world is it? The plate itself is still a bit sticky, but all but half of one number is completely missing...bizarre.

I'm just going to have to chance it in the morning and hope for the best...

As you said, you will have all your docs with you, Just dont wear your tracksuit and burberry hat ok?

[mcskiver]

I've got a slight Liverpool accent - although i've lived away for over ten years - which might be enough if I get someone who's had a long night shift...

Thanks again for all the advice. I'll post back on here if I can give some personal experience back!

[Wacky Racer]

Go over the characters with a permanent black marker pen.

[streaky]

Hooli said:

insulting = insluating tape.

insluating = insulating - Streaky

PS - is this one of those word-ladder puzzles? - S

[supermono]

Forget it, you'll probably find a dodgeyscope on a bridge over the A11 at some point so you'll be able to "get off" whatever speed their random number generator comes up with.

Seriously I'd leave it alone, if you get stopped show your docs and explain that you'd have sorted it but these days only criminals can get numberplates made up.

SM

[Sheepy]

Years ago I drove my old XJ-S with 2/3 of the front plate missing for months without being pulled or anything. I knew the plate was cracked, but one day noticed most of it was missing. Decided to see how long it would take for plod to bother, but the MOT ran out first!