Legality of black and silver reg plates

[mr9lt]

Just a quick question for you all. Recently spotted a black tuscan S in Surrey and a beemer with the black and silver reg plates on both the front and the back. The beemer was passed as it happend by a traffic officer outside heathrow and wasn't pulled, even though he was sat behind them at the lights. I thought these plates could only be used on older vehicles. Any clarification would be of help.

[kenp]

Could have been a Jersey or Guernsey reg. They are black/silver. Weymouth is overrun with them.

[mr9lt]

Unfortunately not DR02 and R319 prefix on the plates.

[Davel]

Could also be a Manx plate.

Over here I think that you can only use them on '73 or earlier cars.

[mg6b]

Davel said:

Could also be a Manx plate. Over here I think that you can only use them on '73 or earlier cars.

I think it is not to have them fixed if registered after Jan 1973 (from memory)

If you have a car registered after that date with black and silver number plates attached, you risk at least a £30 reminder and VDRN and the possible confiscation of your cherished number by DVLA

>> Edited by mg6b on Monday 24th April 13:23

[mr9lt]

Well that explains that, thanks for the info.

[tvrgit]

mg6b said:

I think it is not to have them fixed if registered after Jan 1973 (from memory)

Is it not "any car BUILT after 1 January 1973"? ie a car built in November 72 and registered in Feb 73 would still technically be ok?

OK I'm splitting hairs

[vonhosen]

Vehicles constructed before 1.1.73 may display traditional style "black and white" plates i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.

[mr9lt]

Needless to say a 318i beemer and a MK1 tuscan S dont fall into that category!

[custardkid]

sorry for being dumb but whats a VDRN??

[^Slider^]

Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (Notice).

You have 14 days to have the defect rectified and a MOT testing station certify on the form that the defect has been rectified.

Usually a lot cheaper than a £30.00 fine and fixing the defect end ensures the defect is rectified.

Edited by ^Slider^ on Tuesday 4th July 14:50

[flemke]

BIBs,

What's your professional opinion of the yellow British rear plate?
It is allegedly intended to help others differentiate between the front and rear of a vehicle, but it's hard to imagine why the yellowness would make a difference in real life. Most of the rest of the world seems to manage quite well with identical plates front and rear.

If you saw a British car with a white rear plate that was otherwise a legal front plate would it bother you and would you pull it?

Cheers.

[^Slider^]

I thinks it's because if you flash a front number plate with a standard flash you only get blurred images whereas the yellow ones will still show the registration mark.

[flemke]

^Slider^ said:

I thinks it's because if you flash a front number plate with a standard flash you only get blurred images whereas the yellow ones will still show the registration mark.

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry to be thick about this, but when you say, "flash a number plate", what do you mean?
It appears that the yellow rear plate was introduced in 1973. What sort of flashing device was operative than that is still in use today?

Cheers.

[Fat Richie]

flemke said:

^Slider^ said:

I thinks it's because if you flash a front number plate with a standard flash you only get blurred images whereas the yellow ones will still show the registration mark.

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry to be thick about this, but when you say, "flash a number plate", what do you mean?
It appears that the yellow rear plate was introduced in 1973. What sort of flashing device was operative than that is still in use today?

Cheers.

The reflective plates were introduced as a safety measure. Rumour has it that they are white and yellow so the when lit up at night you could tell whether a car was coming or going...

[Polarbert]

Fat Richie said:

flemke said:

^Slider^ said:

I thinks it's because if you flash a front number plate with a standard flash you only get blurred images whereas the yellow ones will still show the registration mark.

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry to be thick about this, but when you say, "flash a number plate", what do you mean?
It appears that the yellow rear plate was introduced in 1973. What sort of flashing device was operative than that is still in use today?

Cheers.

The reflective plates were introduced as a safety measure. Rumour has it that they are white and yellow so the when lit up at night you could tell whether a car was coming or going...

As was the case with the Porsche Boxster.

[Stubby Pete]

Fat Richie said:

flemke said:

^Slider^ said:

I thinks it's because if you flash a front number plate with a standard flash you only get blurred images whereas the yellow ones will still show the registration mark.

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry to be thick about this, but when you say, "flash a number plate", what do you mean?
It appears that the yellow rear plate was introduced in 1973. What sort of flashing device was operative than that is still in use today?

Cheers.

The reflective plates were introduced as a safety measure. Rumour has it that they are white and yellow so the when lit up at night you could tell whether a car was coming or going...

Good job the Nanny state thought of that, I would have just got confused with just white lights at the front and reds at the rear.

[^Slider^]

flemke said:

^Slider^ said:

I thinks it's because if you flash a front number plate with a standard flash you only get blurred images whereas the yellow ones will still show the registration mark.

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry to be thick about this, but when you say, "flash a number plate", what do you mean?
It appears that the yellow rear plate was introduced in 1973. What sort of flashing device was operative than that is still in use today?

Cheers.

I meant the reasons for it to be used now rather than the reasons when they were introduced.

Obviously gatso flashes.

I wasn't around when they were introduced ;-}