Plastic bags...

[pedal2metal]

Morning all.

Apologies for the lack of active posting over the past few months (there's no excuse, I know...) but after receiving another glorious parking fine from the wonderful folk at Westminster Council last night I have a question for the group...

Plastic bags and numberplates - is it really okay to cover the plate so that the parking attendants can't read em? I haven't tried the tactic just yet but if it works and it stops me getting a ticket once every month I'm up for trying!

[JackHolroyde]

I read somewhere that obsuring your plate is illegal and they can call the BiB to remove it...

[trumpet600]

JackHolroyde said:

I read somewhere that obsuring your plate is illegal and they can call the BiB to remove it...

....at the same time, I don't think parking attendants are allowed to tamper with your bike.

I've got away with this trick many a time, but then I've never parked anywhere that the police would feel need to waste their time removing the bike.

[Johnny]

My plate is 2x7" and is held on by velcro. If it were to 'fall off' whilst parked how would that fare?

Not tried it yet, but worth a thought...

[Fats25]

My understanding is it is different rules for London than anywhere else in the UK. Something to do with local bylaws. They have the right to remove plastic bags/covers etc etc.

Post this on SP&L and someone will tell you for sure.

Not sure where you are parking - but there is loads of free parking in London

http://www.motorcycleparking.com/

[pedal2metal]

Normally I'm pretty good and park in the bike bays but last night I was out and about and parked on one of the side streets leading into Leicester Sq. They are pedestrianised but there's normally a load of bikes shoved down behind the bins (scooters, normally...).

Parked there a thousand times before and never a problem - guess this was one too many times to push my luck!

[randlemarcus]

They can indeed remove things which cover your tax disc and plates in that Lunnon. Probably coming soon to a local authority near you.
For future reference, if you need to park near Leicester Square, theres a legal bike bay opposite the Comedy, which is quite empty of an evening, or, even better, the passage to the right of TGIFridays, leading down to Tiger Tiger is a ticket free zone, and there's usually a bike parked there with a letter from Westminster Council confirming that taped to the screen. Is a little out sight though...

[Atlas 12v]

I know the parking nazi's aren't the sharpest tools in the box but surely they could just read the reg off of your tax disc???

Assuming you have one on display, other wise Ken's other Nazi's squad would lift the bike and dispose of it?

[JackHolroyde]

Atlas 12v said:

I know the parking nazi's aren't the sharpest tools in the box but surely they could just read the reg off of your tax disc???

Assuming you have one on display, other wise Ken's other Nazi's squad would lift the bike and dispose of it?

they need to take a picture of the bike, with the reg no clearly visible.
You cant read the reg no from the taxdisc if you're trying to fit the bike and its location all into one picture!

[pedal2metal]

randlemarcus said:

They can indeed remove things which cover your tax disc and plates in that Lunnon. Probably coming soon to a local authority near you.
For future reference, if you need to park near Leicester Square, theres a legal bike bay opposite the Comedy, which is quite empty of an evening, or, even better, the passage to the right of TGIFridays, leading down to Tiger Tiger is a ticket free zone, and there's usually a bike parked there with a letter from Westminster Council confirming that taped to the screen. Is a little out sight though...

Thanks for the intel - definitely something to bear in mind next time around!

And the comment about taking a picture of the numberplate has got me thinking... My bike was backed against a wall, so reading the plate, let alone taking a picture of it must have been hard. Perhaps a denial of all knowledge is a possibility!