Message from plod

[jakesmith]

I have a number plate with one space in the wrong place. Have had it on the car for over 2 years with no issues. Today got home & there was a plain envelope in my letterbox with a local police compliment slip and a pamphlet on numberplates. I've had a good tun and I'll change them for ones that are correct as the game, thrilling as it was, is now up and I'm not going down for this.
I'd understand if I'd been pulled over for this but what could be the circumstances where the police would bother going to someones house to do this. Could a neighbor have grassed me up? After everything I read about cuts, resources, burglarys not being attended etc I can't believe they have time.
Just to clarify I am not complaining that I got caught, more surprised that there was the will and resource to do this.

[anonymous-user]

1) Perhaps a note is indicative of their lack of time.

2) Resource availability is circumstantial. There are occasional times where minor things can be addressed.

[carinaman]

I don't have a problem with a note through the letter box as a way of making you aware that your plate has been noticed. It's good the pamphlet has been used considered they'd been printed up. It's low cost pro-active policing, you know the plate isn't wholly compliant.

A PCSO could have popped it through your letterbox while on their rounds or passing in a car.

As far as I am concerned it's a good news story.

[jakesmith]

Yep all fair enough I guess
I wonder what the chain of events was that resulted in this happening though

• Grassed up by a rat neighbour
• Pinged by ANPR that was programmed to check for mis spacing
• spotted out by the fuzz & nuber plate written down but not able to deal with at the time

None of these feel very likely to be honest

[Rick101]

Nice one, good sensible policing.

Good decision to take their wisely administered advice too.

[jakesmith]

Just purely out of interest and nothing else, how are they going to check I've done it though, my car isn't outside the house much of the time, Is the worst possible scenario I face a £30 fine for not changing it?

[Eclassy]

carinaman said:

I don't have a problem with a note through the letter box as a way of making you aware that your plate has been noticed. It's good the pamphlet has been used considered they'd been printed up. It's low cost pro-active policing, you know the plate isn't wholly compliant.

A PCSO could have popped it through your letterbox while on their rounds or passing in a car.

As far as I am concerned it's a good news story.

Correct.

Bravo to sensible policing.

[Vaud]

Eclassy said:

carinaman said:

I don't have a problem with a note through the letter box as a way of making you aware that your plate has been noticed. It's good the pamphlet has been used considered they'd been printed up. It's low cost pro-active policing, you know the plate isn't wholly compliant.

A PCSO could have popped it through your letterbox while on their rounds or passing in a car.

As far as I am concerned it's a good news story.

Correct.

Bravo to sensible policing.

Whilst I generally don't always agree with either poster, in this case I do, 100% - pragmatic reasonable policing.

[Who me ?]

jakesmith said:

Just purely out of interest and nothing else, how are they going to check I've done it though, my car isn't outside the house much of the time, Is the worst possible scenario I face a £30 fine for not changing it?

Plenty of ANPR around. All they've got to do is add a flag on your VRN.

[LoonR1]

jakesmith said:

Yep all fair enough I guess
I wonder what the chain of events was that resulted in this happening though

• Grassed up by a rat neighbour
• Pinged by ANPR that was programmed to check for mis spacing
• spotted out by the fuzz & nuber plate written down but not able to deal with at the time

None of these feel very likely to be honest

It's Big Vern

[emmaT2014]

jakesmith said:

Just purely out of interest and nothing else, how are they going to check I've done it though, my car isn't outside the house much of the time, Is the worst possible scenario I face a £30 fine for not changing it?

The best decision you made was to have it changed.
They have found that it's wrong so it won't be hard for them to check it has been changed?
Why are you going to risk winding the police up? There will be only one loser.

[miroku]

Thrilling game is up
Not going down for this
grassed up

Sounds like you have been a serious crim not just a dodgy number plate!

[beeej]

Glad you changed your plate. Embrace your new chavless identity!

[Pit Pony]

[quote=Who me ?]
Plenty of ANPR around. All they've got to do is add a flag on your VRN.

[/quote]

Does the ANPR spot that a digit is dimensionally in the wrong place? Can it spot that the font is a bit dodgy? Is it able to tell the difference between dirt, and damage? Or is the ANPR designed and programed to very cleverly work out what the reg number is despite, dirt, damage, or dimensional bodgery.

[Nigel Worc's]

Just in case you were "grassed up", it is neighbour, unless you're a yank !

A bit like the small plates on motorcycles, why draw attention to yourself in the first place ?

If you want to stay a rebel, but be a little more discrete, get your replacement from fancyplates.com or somewhere similar, and don't have the postcode on the bottom.

[x 7usc]

Pit Pony said:

Does the ANPR spot that a digit is dimensionally in the wrong place? Can it spot that the font is a bit dodgy? Is it able to tell the difference between dirt, and damage? Or is the ANPR designed and programed to very cleverly work out what the reg number is despite, dirt, damage, or dimensional bodgery.

No it can't tell if a numberplate is mis spaced it just reads it as it should be spaced, while its a clever bit of kit, its not that clever. For example it will totally ignore a numberplate that does not exist, not flag it up as non existent!!

[martinbiz]

jakesmith said:

Is the worst possible scenario I face a £30 fine for not changing it?

No, don't forget the police also report the offence to the dvla so you also run the risk of them withdrawing the right to use it, could be very expensive if it's a nice plate and you paid good money for it.

[Red Devil]

jakesmith said:

Is the worst possible scenario I face a £30 fine for not changing it?

Not any more.

The fine attached to a non endorsable FPN for a number plate offence went up to £50 some time ago - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23713732

[Terminator X]

My plate is standard bar a single digit moved across. Been like that for years with plod driving in front, behind etc and they've not even batted an eyelid. You've been unlucky I'd say.

Oh and for the record I got a speeding ticket through with it like that with nothing said then either

TX.

[Mr Taxpayer]

jakesmith said:

Yep all fair enough I guess
I wonder what the chain of events was that resulted in this happening though

• Grassed up by a rat neighbour
• Pinged by ANPR that was programmed to check for mis spacing
• spotted out by the fuzz & nuber plate written down but not able to deal with at the time

None of these feel very likely to be honest

ANPR AFAIK can't be programmed to detect mis spacing. But it does flag up unreadable number plates. I saw a 'Police Interceptors' where an Essex girl with M700 SXY on her smart had tweaked it to look like 'I'm too Sexy'. She got a chat (in very small easy words) and fixed penalty.

An unreadable plate 'may' get you pulled if the Police have the time to do something about it that day; it'll depend o nthe degree of mis-spacing, the manner vehicle is being driven etc, etc.. However if your car is stolen, it goes down on the PNC as STOLEN; if the vehicle passes an ANPR and 'Stolen' flags up, the Police WILL give chase and you get your car back.

Your call really.