Fixed Penalty for Carbon 3D Number Plates

[Red Devil]

surveyor said:

Need to read the OP again I think...

Maybe you should. Or do you mean me? If so, would you care to be more specific? I'm reading a post wherein the main complaint is that the same legislation has been interpreted differently by two separate crews from the same force. What's your take on it?

[onboard]

Hi, thanks for all the replies so far.

Yes, the characters are similar to the one shown in an earlier post in this thread.
Yes, two different traffic crews have interpreted it differently.

Yes the plates are supplied from an outlet licenced to make and supply them and they have said they are road legal and have not made anything which could affect removal of their licence.

Here is DVLA link which does state characters can be 3D
https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-...

And also a link to VOSA Special Notice 3 from 2010 where section 6.3 shows what can be allowed.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Special%20No...

The police have simply handed the lad a leaflet from DVLA showing same information.

So I have now asked for clarification from the Professional Standards Dept of the force concerned.

Cheers and thanks so far for replies.

[Mill Wheel]

pitmansboots said:

It is my understanding that the BS refers to the reflectivity of the background. In any case the British Standards Institute publication does not form or trump the legislation.

Since the legislation orders that the plate should comply to BS AU 145d, then the critical part of the legislation IS the BS AU 145d.

BS AU 145d is not simply the reflectivity, it includes tests relating to weathering, impact resistance, and bending.
As usual, the original standard failed to take account of certain aspects of those tests, and the standard was revised.
There is also a drive to make plates theft resistant. The part of the test which was designed to stop them from breaking or kinking if bent, has actually been seen as a way of preventing re-use if removed.
Other means include two part plates that delaminate if an attempt is made to peel them from a plate holder!

There is no "reflective" acrylic - the reflective part is a surface treatment, either applied directly, or stuck on in the form of an adhesive layer, yet the regulations talk of reflective acrylic!

Regulations said:

VEHICLES REGISTERED AND NEW REGISTRATION PLATES FITTED ON OR AFTER 1ST
SEPTEMBER 2001 (MANDATORY SPECIFICATION)
1. The plate must be made of retroreflecting material which, as regards its construction, colour and other qualities, complies with the requirements of —
(a) the British Standard specification for retroreflecting number plates published on 15 January 1998 under number BS AU 145d(a), or
(b) any other relevant standard or specification recognised for use in an EEA State and which, when in use, offers a performance equivalent to that offered by a plate complying with the British Standard specification

Equivalents to BS AU 145d include DIN standards.

Retroreflective means reflects light back to its source with a minimum of scattering... unlike the faceted honeycomb reflective material, which can scatter light at up to (and beyond) 30°.

Such a material can now be sprayed onto a metal plate, making conforming pressed metal plates possible, which were not possible when the standard was released in 1998!
These have been tested to DIN standards equivalent to BS AU 145d and passed - now being sold with BS approval but questioned by uninformed parties.

[ging84]

so sounds like the raised characters would still also need to meet the BS AU 145d requirments for things like wear resistance and flexibility, which may or may not be possible, i suspect it's unlikely for some of the ones i have seen where they literally are stuck to a blank plate, but maybe you can get better ones where they are moulded to it and are compliant and therefore legal

[Mill Wheel]

pitmansboots said:

A registration plate must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.

Black carbon fibre lettering meets this requirement when supplied by an authorised plate supplier, such as those available from Halfords. They have the appropriate BS mark on and manufacturers name and address.
As to the definition of black, some interesting reading here: http://www.andrewkelsall.com/the-professional-desi...

It is interesting that a few police officers are keen to stamp down on what they perceive as illegal lettering, yet are happy to ignore council placed road signs which fail to meet The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002!