Missing BS AU and postcode on number plates
Discussion
I was recently stopped by the police on my way home from work. An ANPR search showed no insurance on my car however this was resolved as I had my documents to hand (I had fitted a cherished plate a few months back and informed my insurance but unfortunately they failed to update the data base)
The number plates on my car did not have the BSAU mark or makers postcode on them, they are correct font, spacing, size etc.
The police officer told me that I should have an £80 find there and then but he'd do me a favour and instead allow me to change them within 14 days and present them at the local police station
I have now purchased and fitted the correct number plates, this may sound odd but if in the future I wanted to fit the previous plates which don't display the BS AU and postcode, where would I be legally if i was stopped again?
Just for clarity the plates in question are reproductions of the original supplying dealer ones and they do not come with the legal markers,
The number plates on my car did not have the BSAU mark or makers postcode on them, they are correct font, spacing, size etc.
The police officer told me that I should have an £80 find there and then but he'd do me a favour and instead allow me to change them within 14 days and present them at the local police station
I have now purchased and fitted the correct number plates, this may sound odd but if in the future I wanted to fit the previous plates which don't display the BS AU and postcode, where would I be legally if i was stopped again?
Just for clarity the plates in question are reproductions of the original supplying dealer ones and they do not come with the legal markers,
pistolpedro said:
I was recently stopped by the police on my way home from work. An ANPR search showed no insurance on my car however this was resolved as I had my documents to hand (I had fitted a cherished plate a few months back and informed my insurance but unfortunately they failed to update the data base)
The number plates on my car did not have the BSAU mark or makers postcode on them, they are correct font, spacing, size etc.
The police officer told me that I should have an £80 find there and then but he'd do me a favour and instead allow me to change them within 14 days and present them at the local police station
I have now purchased and fitted the correct number plates, this may sound odd but if in the future I wanted to fit the previous plates which don't display the BS AU and postcode, where would I be legally if i was stopped again?
Just for clarity the plates in question are reproductions of the original supplying dealer ones and they do not come with the legal markers,
You know the answer, your original plates were illegal they are still illegal. The only question for you is whether it worth the risk.The number plates on my car did not have the BSAU mark or makers postcode on them, they are correct font, spacing, size etc.
The police officer told me that I should have an £80 find there and then but he'd do me a favour and instead allow me to change them within 14 days and present them at the local police station
I have now purchased and fitted the correct number plates, this may sound odd but if in the future I wanted to fit the previous plates which don't display the BS AU and postcode, where would I be legally if i was stopped again?
Just for clarity the plates in question are reproductions of the original supplying dealer ones and they do not come with the legal markers,
The question from me is why on earth would you change the plates back?
It's a slight grey area. If the car was first registered before the rules came in then you don't have to legally have the BSAU no and the postcode on there but if you get new plates made they do. Going through that exact conundrum with my car as I want to have period correct plates for 1989, the originals would be 100% legal but reproductions would pass an MOT but fall foul of Construction and Use regs.
My hunch is you should be fine, purely judging on the number of modified plates you see every day and they never get pulled for it.
My hunch is you should be fine, purely judging on the number of modified plates you see every day and they never get pulled for it.
My opinion is that getting excited about a lack of these markings on an otherwise conforming plate indicates the copper involved has an attitude problem, but that also means they're the type who will just be hard work to deal with, so probably easier to stick with the marked plates, irrespective of whether you strictly speaking could do otherwise.
I would want to refit the illegal plates as they have the original supplying dealer details on them, I appreciate this may seem unusual but its a detail I really like on my car.
In answer to the question of risk, I'd take the risk if the maximum punishment was an £80 fine with no further action but if it was more severe e.g 3 points I'm not so sure,
the reason of my post is to establish what consequences I would face if I was caught using these plates again.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
In answer to the question of risk, I'd take the risk if the maximum punishment was an £80 fine with no further action but if it was more severe e.g 3 points I'm not so sure,
the reason of my post is to establish what consequences I would face if I was caught using these plates again.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
aterribleusername said:
My hunch is you should be fine, purely judging on the number of modified plates you see every day and they never get pulled for it.
Illegal plates are something which does attract attention from police and it's a starter reason for them to pull somebody over, which often then reveals numerous other offences being discovered. Surrey Police often post photos of illegal plates where the driver tests positive for cocaine, has no licence, is not the person insured on the vehicle etc.Most officers have a good memory though, so if OP was pulled over in an area they drive in regularly then if they switch the plates back then it's risking being pulled over again. Second time will definitely get a fine, no points, but be sure the car is otherwise 100% in order because they will be all over it...
Re. the dates - if the plate was made after 1st September 2001 (ie. 51 plate onwards) then it needs to have BSAU145d and the maker's name and postcode. Before that date AFAIK it would still need a BS mark but not the name.
Edited by Gareth79 on Sunday 17th July 17:05
pistolpedro said:
I would want to refit the illegal plates as they have the original supplying dealer details on them, I appreciate this may seem unusual but its a detail I really like on my car.
In answer to the question of risk, I'd take the risk if the maximum punishment was an £80 fine with no further action but if it was more severe e.g 3 points I'm not so sure,
the reason of my post is to establish what consequences I would face if I was caught using these plates again.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
It’s a £100 fine not £80 (assuming UK). In answer to the question of risk, I'd take the risk if the maximum punishment was an £80 fine with no further action but if it was more severe e.g 3 points I'm not so sure,
the reason of my post is to establish what consequences I would face if I was caught using these plates again.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
Seems a bit odd if I’m honest.
pistolpedro said:
I would want to refit the illegal plates as they have the original supplying dealer details on them, I appreciate this may seem unusual but its a detail I really like on my car.
In answer to the question of risk, I'd take the risk if the maximum punishment was an £80 fine with no further action but if it was more severe e.g 3 points I'm not so sure,
the reason of my post is to establish what consequences I would face if I was caught using these plates again.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
As long as the plate has not been modified, I would say the chances of being stopped, just because it 's missing a BS bit, is virtually zero. Remember you only got stopped before because they thought there was an insurance issue, nothing to do with the number plate.In answer to the question of risk, I'd take the risk if the maximum punishment was an £80 fine with no further action but if it was more severe e.g 3 points I'm not so sure,
the reason of my post is to establish what consequences I would face if I was caught using these plates again.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
However, if you do get stopped again the fine is £100 and no points and the information is passed on to DVLA. If you get stopped 3 times DVLA can take the plate away and issue you with another of the same age.
This normally applies to 'personal plates' when the car is returned to it's original registration. Although I guess it could also apply to in this case, but you obviously wouldn't get your own reg back!
Although this is the DVLA so I suppose anything could happen.............
Many thanks all, I really appreciate the advice
I usually drive quite sedately and the car in question is an unmodified cooking VW Golf so usually attracts no attention from other road users and the police, to be honest its the 1st time I've been pulled over in 20 years, (the previous plate was on the car for nearly ten years and that was the same design without legal markers)
All that said the officer in question did seem enthusiastic so if our paths were to cross again I'd expect more of the same.
Thats really useful to know about the DVLA, the plate itself was quite expensive (relatively) so I'd hate to lose it
I usually drive quite sedately and the car in question is an unmodified cooking VW Golf so usually attracts no attention from other road users and the police, to be honest its the 1st time I've been pulled over in 20 years, (the previous plate was on the car for nearly ten years and that was the same design without legal markers)
All that said the officer in question did seem enthusiastic so if our paths were to cross again I'd expect more of the same.
Thats really useful to know about the DVLA, the plate itself was quite expensive (relatively) so I'd hate to lose it
Are the characters repositioned as to make them illegal?
Picking you up on lack of BS markings sounds very much like someone with an axe to grind, either because of the manner of your driving or failing the attitude test. It’s one of those things that strictly speaking is illegal but no cop is actually going to pull you over for (because who can see it when in motion).
If you have dodgy spacing on your plate, though, then that’s inviting them to take a closer look.
Picking you up on lack of BS markings sounds very much like someone with an axe to grind, either because of the manner of your driving or failing the attitude test. It’s one of those things that strictly speaking is illegal but no cop is actually going to pull you over for (because who can see it when in motion).
If you have dodgy spacing on your plate, though, then that’s inviting them to take a closer look.
Durzel said:
Are the characters repositioned as to make them illegal?
Picking you up on lack of BS markings sounds very much like someone with an axe to grind, either because of the manner of your driving or failing the attitude test. It’s one of those things that strictly speaking is illegal but no cop is actually going to pull you over for (because who can see it when in motion).
If you have dodgy spacing on your plate, though, then that’s inviting them to take a closer look.
It may pay you to read the OP’s first post again.Picking you up on lack of BS markings sounds very much like someone with an axe to grind, either because of the manner of your driving or failing the attitude test. It’s one of those things that strictly speaking is illegal but no cop is actually going to pull you over for (because who can see it when in motion).
If you have dodgy spacing on your plate, though, then that’s inviting them to take a closer look.
Fore Left said:
I take it you're quite happy for people to drive round with no insurance then?
says he had documents to prove on hand , sounds like he was hassled over a bsu number that didnt need to exist before sept 2001 o.p is the car pre sept 2001?
Edited by steveo3002 on Monday 18th July 08:00
steveo3002 said:
says he had documents to prove on hand , sounds like he was hassled over a bsu number that didnt to exist before sept 2001
He was given advice and a chance to rectify the problem rather than a fine on the spot. OP admits that the plates don’t conform to the requirements.Sounds like fair and proportionate policing to me.
charltjr said:
He was given advice and a chance to rectify the problem rather than a fine on the spot. OP admits that the plates don’t conform to the requirements.
Sounds like fair and proportionate policing to me.
It's not a problem that needs rectifying. It's nonsense minutiae that's a waste of time for everyone involved.Sounds like fair and proportionate policing to me.
pistolpedro said:
I was recently stopped by the police on my way home from work. An ANPR search showed no insurance on my car however this was resolved as I had my documents to hand
(I had fitted a cherished plate a few months back and informed my insurance but unfortunately they failed to update the data base)
(I had fitted a cherished plate a few months back and informed my insurance but unfortunately they failed to update the data base)
pistolpedro said:
I would want to refit the illegal plates as they have the original supplying dealer details on them, I appreciate this may seem unusual but its a detail I really like on my car.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
I’m confused..the car in question is a 2001 model.
Was it the original plates from 2001 that were illegal, or the cherished plate that you recently fitted.
As others have pointed out, the police aren’t actively looking for the markings as a primary focus and will only bother checking them, if they pull you over for something more obvious - like no insurance on the database.
It’s best practice to totally ignore the advice anyone who insist that the police are being petty, as typically they have an axe to grind on on behalf of somebody who got caught doing much worse than your situation.
pistolpedro said:
I was recently stopped by the police on my way home from work. An ANPR search showed no insurance on my car however this was resolved as I had my documents to hand
(I had fitted a cherished plate a few months back and informed my insurance but unfortunately they failed to update the data base)
(I had fitted a cherished plate a few months back and informed my insurance but unfortunately they failed to update the data base)
pistolpedro said:
I would want to refit the illegal plates as they have the original supplying dealer details on them, I appreciate this may seem unusual but its a detail I really like on my car.
the car in question is a 2001 model.
As you were commuting, the chances are that you may be seen again by the same officer. Do you feel lucky?the car in question is a 2001 model.
Is there any chance that you can get the original supplying dealer to make new legal plates for you? That’s the only way I can see that you can be 100% legal. Or get ‘Show Plates’ made up that have the original dealer details plus the BS code.
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