Honeycomb effect on numberplates - illegal? Why?

[southpaw]

Following on from the stick on plates thread...

Just wondering why the honeycomb background effect on numberplates is illegal? It doesn't make the plates unreadable by speed camera's/ANPR cameras AFAIK, and IMO looks good up close, so why aren't we supposed to do it? And really, if you were to have the honeycomb effect put on your plates (not that I'd ever do anything illegal of course ) would any BiB ever give you a ticket for it?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

There is a standard for plates, it's as simple as that.

[bigdods]

Problem here is that the TVR Chimarea has a backlit plate - there is only one supplier that I know of and they provide the honeycomb background as its translucent. I wouldnt imagine that the honeycomb would have any effect on speed cameras etc, its quite subtle.

[alphadog]

bigdods said:

Problem here is that the TVR Chimarea has a backlit plate - there is only one supplier that I know of and they provide the honeycomb background as its translucent. I wouldnt imagine that the honeycomb would have any effect on speed cameras etc, its quite subtle.

Nope, a non-reflective background would be interesting on some cameras, though!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

bigdods said:

as its translucent.

I had one like that. I didn't know about the translucent thing, and happily (luckily) did 50,000 carefree miles with a standard plate on. Don't ask me why it never occurred to me that there was no number plate light!