Why no front plates?

[Jayho]

Hi, during my usual commute into work i've noticed on a few occasions the same BMW Coupe (not sure what, not too clued up on BMW's) who has decided not to put front plates on his car... I know many would probably argue that it is not actually used for speed detection ect therefore have no point... but its still the law, why can he follow it? Just so he can look cool? (BTW I do not think it looks cool) I have seen a few cars with sticker number plates and that doesnt bother me so much, but every time he drives pass in his unplated car is a little bit of a distraction... Just seeing a black front coming towards you aint that fun... Wouldn't he be pulled over for this regularly? Is it points and fine or just a fine? Doesnt seem very fair that everyone else sticks by the law but some Total Wasteful Antisocial Terror thinks he's above the law and society?

[Funk]

FPN, no points. Either £30 or £60, I can't recall off the top of my head. Less than the punishment for a speeding fine though.

[MGZRod]

Because he prefers the look of it without the front plate?
Seemslike you have a chip on your shoulder. He doesn't have to follow the sheep like you and others.

[GreigM]

Funk said:

FPN, no points. Either £30 or £60, I can't recall off the top of my head. Less than the punishment for a speeding fine though.

add that to the chances of getting pulled (pretty much f-all) and I can understand the temptation...

[RDM]

I thought they were used for speed enforcement, don't average speed cameras only look
at the front plate?

[Atomic Gibbon]

Could be worse. He could put daft spotlights on it =)

[AndrewW-G]

GreigM said:

Funk said:

FPN, no points. Either £30 or £60, I can't recall off the top of my head. Less than the punishment for a speeding fine though.

add that to the chances of getting pulled (pretty much f-all) and I can understand the temptation...

And the chance even if pulled to try the old "It was on there when I last checked, you dont think somebody's stolen it do you office?" to get out of paying the FPN

[Jayho]

MGZRod said:

Because he prefers the look of it without the front plate?
Seemslike you have a chip on your shoulder. He doesn't have to follow the sheep like you and others.

No, i just feel that one rule should apply to all... It shouldn't matter that he can piss away the fine as if its pennies for him. And how does following the rules of motoring make me a sheep? you may as well say i'm going to kill someone today and not be a sheep like everyone else who doesnt kill someone!

[louismchuge]

I usually see it on chav mobiles where the stupid bodykit theyve glued to the front has meant they've eliminated any flat surfaces to mount one!

[G0ldfysh]

In last 12 months front plate been on 2 weeks

No problems with plod I don't take piss on speed don't draw attention to myself main reason is standard position is low with multi storey car parks it gets knocked off and prefer the look. Finds compared to specs on motor ways a bonus too

[aka_kerrly]

ive been driving around for a period of time now without a front number plate because someone reversed into my car damaging my front bumper and cracking my plate. Now the person who did this is uninsured etc so we are having to go to court to sort it. My argument is i am not paying for the damage to be repaired until the court case has been dealt with. In the meantime yes ive been pulled over 15+ times for having the plate in the front window instead of on the bumper.

Most of the time the police have been understanding and accepted the position im in (quoted crime ref number etc and they seem fine) however a couple of occassions i have been treated like a peice of **** and told things like " there has been a increase in crime in this area and we suspect its people like you who have no number plate so we will search your car" and well "clearly you have something to hide i bet you dont have Tax/Test/insurance" and even "i bet this car is a clone then" Finally the other night i was told that my car would be impounded if i didnt fit the number plate there and then so i ended up having to screw the remains of my plate (basically its cracked in the middle and 1 corner missing so the bottom of a G is partially missing) before they would let me go..

There are forward facing SPECS cameras that read your front number plate so it is essential to have one, if you get cought on the motorway in a average speed camera zone without a plate id expect some harsh treatment!

Dave

[Jayho]

Well the first time i saw it i though "Ah, he'll be pulled over soon and told to put his plates back on, no biggie" but after the 4th or 5th time seeing it (about a month in total) not once did it have its plate on... I got told off when my plates fell off during heavy rain and flooding, and i was genuinely on my way to halfrauds to get a new plate, had all my paperwork on passenger side to prove. Well no matter, i've got private plates which i paid quite a lot for, so I like to show them!

Edited by Jayho on Tuesday 25th May 11:29

[Sods Law]

I had no plate on for a few weeks due to it being damaged, popped it in theboot and I had my docs in my bag just in case, the thing to point out is, you can no longer just buy a plate you have to take all sorts of ID etc so to the op if he's waiting for a paper work its quite easy to get to 5 weeks these days between RM and the DVLA, also was the showing a UK rear plate? Not all countries are required to have a front plate?

Replying fromm BB so good this shows ok!

Dave

[Roo]

I've just put the front plate back on my car after it fell off in December. Basically got fed up with getting funny looks from coppers.

If it's so important to have one why don't bikes need them?

[Noisy]

I know a few TVR owners run without them, they block the air flow so are often removed for track days and the like, then forget to put them back on I have run without one in the past and never had any hassles.

[Jayho]

Sods Law said:

I had no plate on for a few weeks due to it being damaged, popped it in theboot and I had my docs in my bag just in case, the thing to point out is, you can no longer just buy a plate you have to take all sorts of ID etc so to the op if he's waiting for a paper work its quite easy to get to 5 weeks these days between RM and the DVLA, also was the showing a UK rear plate? Not all countries are required to have a front plate?

Replying fromm BB so good this shows ok!

Dave

Lol never see the back of his car, always traveling opposite direction of me.

[obscene]

Roo said:

I've just put the front plate back on my car after it fell off in December. Basically got fed up with getting funny looks from coppers.

If it's so important to have one why don't bikes need them?

Nowhere to put them on a bike. That and we're all awesome

[Jayho]

Noisy said:

I know a few TVR owners run without them, they block the air flow so are often removed for track days and the like, then forget to put them back on I have run without one in the past and never had any hassles.

If you want to prevent air flow disruption why not have it on the side like Alfa's do!

I've also highlighted in my OP that I know some people will argue the front plates are not used for speed camera's ect, therefore is defunct, but it is still UK motoring rules!

Does the UK not require certain criteria before allowing a non UK car to come in to UK? Throughout most of Europe i'm sure if a UK car was to pass through they'd have to meet there rules? Even as far as paying tax when in that country for you UK taxed car, just to pass through!

[marcosgt]

obscene said:

Roo said:

I've just put the front plate back on my car after it fell off in December. Basically got fed up with getting funny looks from coppers.

If it's so important to have one why don't bikes need them?

Nowhere to put them on a bike. That and we're all awesome

Were front plates ever legal requirements on bikes? A lot of sixties and earlier bikes have side on front plates that follow the line of the front mudguard/wheel.

Was this just convention or law and if the latter when did it change and why?

My old car has a stick on front plate, which I'm not 100% sure is road legal, but it's always had one, so hey-ho, but at least it's visible.

Not having a front plate at all presumably makes you unidentifiable to front facing speed cameras of all sorts...

Sounds likes the person in question is one of those self important type of sheep who think the rules don't apply to them... Possibly true of residential speed limits, drink and drug-drive limits and the need for such sheep like things as insurance and RFL as well.

M

Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 25th May 12:56

[UncappedTag]

Atomic Gibbon said:

Could be worse. He could put daft spotlights on it =)

LOL, old but lol