Black numberplates urban myth - the law has changed
Discussion
I suggest you check your urban myth directory sir. Under the Display of Registration Marks 2001 it is reiterated that "number plates must be fixed at the front of the vehicle as vertical as possible". This has been the case since the brouhaha started with the launch of the E-type, and while a blind eye is turned it is still technically illegal not to have a vertically mounted front number plate. American E-type had a mechanical swivel system to enable the plate to be displayed under the bonnet but which turned so it wasn't crushed when opened.
Anyway, I thought this might be apposite:-
Anyway, I thought this might be apposite:-
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 9th January 11:57
mcford said:
marshalla said:
It's not a change by DVLA, it's a change to the primary legislation by Parliament.
Which in my book makes the fact that this information has not been sent to the people who need to know, even worse.
lowdrag said:
... I don't go looking to kill a Scotsman carrying a bow and arrow in York, which is legal. ...
Not sure if serious, but, if so, that is 947,000 per cent b
ks. Those lame Xmas stocking filler books that go on about "the whacky laws of Olde Englande" are all made up, as are their even lamer "crazy but true"* website equivalents.*That's "true" as in "false". Just like this thread!
mybrainhurts said:
marshalla said:
mybrainhurts said:
Breadvan72 said:
Arrrrrrghhh - Typo in topic title. There should be a space between "Black" and "numberplates".
And another one in the middle of "numberplates"
TooMany2cvs said:
mcford said:
marshalla said:
It's not a change by DVLA, it's a change to the primary legislation by Parliament.
Which in my book makes the fact that this information has not been sent to the people who need to know, even worse.droopsnoot said:
TooMany2cvs said:
mcford said:
marshalla said:
It's not a change by DVLA, it's a change to the primary legislation by Parliament.
Which in my book makes the fact that this information has not been sent to the people who need to know, even worse.Breadvan72 said:
Various rubbishy classic car mags (are there any non-rubbishy ones?) have been purveying the myth that...
If somebody chooses to cut themselves off from the sources of information, I'm not sure that's DVLA's fault.droopsnoot said:
And MOT testers, by the sound of it, and whoever wrote (and hasn't updated) the MOT testers manual.
Are plates in the test this week? I've lost track...But, seriously, what do you want? DVLA to write to you personally, as keeper of a 1973/4-built historic vehicle, to tell you that you can now put historically anachronistic plates on if you so desire?
As I understand it, the natural law of unintended consequences took place here. There never was any intention to make the numberplate type a sign of the taxation class but 'somebody' drafted the rules that way. As there was no proper announcement, various reference sources were and some still are, wrong.
As I recall from being a schoolboy at the time of transition, I only saw one car carrying black and white 'L' year plates. Car was a bright yellow Ford Cortina Mk 3 the coke bottle one, and a fine nesting ground for the Dagenham moths. Twas a company car, and I think they were trying to save every penny they could.
As I recall from being a schoolboy at the time of transition, I only saw one car carrying black and white 'L' year plates. Car was a bright yellow Ford Cortina Mk 3 the coke bottle one, and a fine nesting ground for the Dagenham moths. Twas a company car, and I think they were trying to save every penny they could.
lowdrag said:
Off topic, but my E-type has never had legal plates, being stuck on the bonnet.
GC8 said:
Nothing makes 'stick on' plates illegal now, and they certainly weren't illegal before, either.
Right 
We looked at this before
The regs on spacing font and material of number plates refer to the white/yellow layer that's usually stuck to the back of a layer of stiff perspex.
If you want to stick it to flimsy flexible piece of plastic or nothing and stick it to the front of your motor or the nearest vertical surface that's up to you.
You have to meet the readability rules which I dont have to hand but theyre something like you have to be able to read the plates from 30ft away and from about 10ft either side of centre
Someone post up the two pieces of legislation to confirm
With an E type or similar you'll be looking down on the sloping plate -which helps the readability
Anyone want to contradict that in the spirit of this thread
Edited by saaby93 on Saturday 9th January 21:12
Simply put, old laws (if ever laws) get overtaken by new (and usually more appropriate) laws. The laws against murder (which are current) do not admit of exceptions for shooting Welsh with crossbows, etc.
I doubt anyone seriously believes these 'crazy laws', though. It's just a silly thing to say.
I doubt anyone seriously believes these 'crazy laws', though. It's just a silly thing to say.
ORD said:
Simply put, old laws (if ever laws) get overtaken by new (and usually more appropriate) laws. The laws against murder (which are current) do not admit of exceptions for shooting Welsh with crossbows, etc.
I doubt anyone seriously believes these 'crazy laws', though. It's just a silly thing to say.
Wasnt there a recent case where they used one of these to prosecute someone who was drunk in charge of a disability carriage as it was outside the usual road traffic acts?I doubt anyone seriously believes these 'crazy laws', though. It's just a silly thing to say.
saaby93 said:
Wasnt there a recent case where they used one of these to prosecute someone who was drunk in charge of a disability carriage as it was outside the usual road traffic acts?
Yes, but hardly a completely isolated incident.https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=drunk+in+charge+...
ellroy said:
BV with regard to the York/bow issue as I understand it, it's a local bye law applying to a free born citizen(?) of York.
In simple terms is that the usual law of the land overtakes such local old nonsense?
Just curious as someone who until recently lived in the City.
A byelaw could never make homicide lawful. In modern public law terms, such a byelaw would be beyond the powers of the byelaw making authority (eg a City Council). Also, given that there is a general legal prohibition on homicide (in common law and under statute), and given the positive obligation of the State to protect life (now guaranteed by article 2 ECHR), no such byelaw could have legal effect. If the rule you allege lurks somewhere in primary legislation, it has been impliedly repealed.In simple terms is that the usual law of the land overtakes such local old nonsense?
Just curious as someone who until recently lived in the City.
The timing of all this legislation does make me chuckle a bit.
I've just gone to great expense to get proper alloy with plastic numbers plates for my '75 Peugeot as when I bought it the car came with illegal (and bloody ugly!) black and silver pressed plates, and now it turns out they may actually legal on the car!
Now I just have to work out how to get free car tax!
I've just gone to great expense to get proper alloy with plastic numbers plates for my '75 Peugeot as when I bought it the car came with illegal (and bloody ugly!) black and silver pressed plates, and now it turns out they may actually legal on the car!
Now I just have to work out how to get free car tax!
eccles said:
The timing of all this legislation does make me chuckle a bit.
I've just gone to great expense to get proper alloy with plastic numbers plates for my '75 Peugeot as when I bought it the car came with illegal (and bloody ugly!) black and silver pressed plates, and now it turns out they may actually legal on the car!
Now I just have to work out how to get free car tax!
Alloy plate with the plastic digits? They look absolutely period correct . Care to share who supplied them?I've just gone to great expense to get proper alloy with plastic numbers plates for my '75 Peugeot as when I bought it the car came with illegal (and bloody ugly!) black and silver pressed plates, and now it turns out they may actually legal on the car!
Now I just have to work out how to get free car tax!
When I've scanned it in I'll post a small pic of my dad's 504 - L reg with the same type of plates, where'a my grandad's504 (K reg) had the acrylic inline plates I posted earlier.
Edited by uk66fastback on Sunday 10th January 13:38
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff