Wife stopped for illegal number plate...

[WaferThinHam]

Strudul said:

WaferThinHam said:

If the OP's wife earns more in a day than the fine was, then surely the question answers its self. Just pay the fine, who cares. Don't "lose" the stuff in the door pocket next time.

Surely you'd only be in court for 30 mins or so? Just prove the plate is legal. See no reason you couldn't work the rest of the day?

True. Take the afternoon off and celebrate your victory in the pub. OP delivered with measurements. Looks like the copper was wrong. Makes you wonder why the OP's wife was booked in the first place? Lady not comfortable telling policeman to measure plate? Legal docs in door pocket gone for a walk not helping?

The whole thing's a bit baffling really. Hope you get off OP.

The plate's still look gash though, but I will defend your right to have them. :P

[Strudul]

agtlaw said:

Law v. measurements

Space between characters 11mm (11.28)
Horizontal space between groups 33mm (33.02)
Stroke width 14mm (13.05)
Stroke width 14mm (13.05)
Minimum margin 11mm (11.32)
Character height 79mm (78.56)

On that basis, suck it up, pay the fine, and send an angry letter to the plate company.

Would have been better off taking a saw to a standard size plate.

[Gavia]

Plug Life said:

Why should she pay when it's legal?

Based on the OP’s measurements they’re not legal though, albeit by nominal amounts.

agtlaw said:

Law v. measurements

Space between characters 11mm (11.28)
Horizontal space between groups 33mm (33.02)
Stroke width 14mm (13.05)
Stroke width 14mm (13.05)
Minimum margin 11mm (11.32)
Character height 79mm (78.56)

[eldar]

Breadvan72 said:

I know I have hit paydirt when you come out of the woodwork.

Unlike you to indulge in such petty (and poorly crafted) squabbling. Only 3/10, I'm afraid.

[Strudul]

Gavia said:

I don’t think the grey cable ties holding the plate on will have helped any discussion with plod

I reckon that's a white zip tie that just looks grey due to the light and would be pretty invisible otherwise.

(Doesn't change the fact they are illegal due to the stroke width though)

[cmaguire]

Yeah, that'll be it, the copper took issue with the stroke width.
It wasn't a sad desire for another petty collar trumping a lack of knowledge of the regulations.

[Plug Life]

Gavia said:

Based on the OP’s measurements they’re not legal though, albeit by nominal amounts.

Well that's unlucky, but obviously the coppers stopped her because they thought there's a standard width for plates which is not the case.

[eccles]

Humper said:

And SEVENTY FIVE QUID for number plates?????????? Are you insane?

I paid that last year for my classic car's plates.
I wanted the proper 70's alloy plate with plastic numbers on. I could only find two places that do them, and they were both about this price.

[Gavia]

Plug Life said:

Gavia said:

Based on the OP’s measurements they’re not legal though, albeit by nominal amounts.

Well that's unlucky, but obviously the coppers stopped her because they thought there's a standard width for plates which is not the case.

Agreed, but they’ve got lucky and the OP doesn’t really have a defence.

[cmaguire]

Or maybe the copper has a chip on their shoulder regarding private plates like half the people on this thread and was desperate to 'stick it to the man' (or woman in this case) on behalf of the common man.

[agtlaw]

I’d like to check the stroke width regulation. It’s odd that they went to the trouble of getting the other measurements right.

[Strudul]

agtlaw said:

I’d like to check the stroke width regulation. It’s odd that they went to the trouble of getting the other measurements right.

Definitely 14mm

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

and Table B here (pg 22)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/pdfs/u...

The height is just below regs too, assuming OP's verniers are calibrated correctly.

[RA500]

The reason it was held on with cable ties is that I removed the plinth and the sticky didn't keep too well with it not having much to hold to, I added the cable ties and haven't got round to sniping them off now the glue has set properly

[TooMany2cvs]

Strudul said:

agtlaw said:

I’d like to check the stroke width regulation. It’s odd that they went to the trouble of getting the other measurements right.

Definitely 14mm

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

and Table B here (pg 22)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

And going back to the actual legislation...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/pdfs/u... (p22)

[Pothole]

cmaguire said:

Or maybe the copper has a chip on their shoulder regarding private plates like half the people on this thread and was desperate to 'stick it to the man' (or woman in this case) on behalf of the common man.

We definitely need pics now, don't we?

[Mandat]

RA500 said:

It looks like the OP has measured the stroke width incorrectly, based on these 2 photos.

By my reckoning it looks like the actual width is at least 14mm, therefore legal.

[Red Devil]

TooMany2cvs said:

The things that are laid down in law (as described in that leaflet) are characters sizes, space between them, and margins.

Plus the one you forgot: borders.

RA500 said:

The reason given was that the plate was 'cut down'

Key question. Is that the actual wording on the FPN and nothing more? If so, it is easily defeated.

Simply print out the relevant legislation (linked to earlier) and invite the prosecution to show where it stipulates the dimensions of the backing plate.
They will struggle because there is no such requirement: therefore no case to answer.

Been there, done that. I politely made it clear at the roadside that if he issued a FPN I would contest it.
I succeeded in convincing him that a wasted day in court might not impress his shift sergeant.
Result: a somewhat miffed copper and no ticket for me.

I sometimes wonder why anyone bothers to ask a question on here
It just a matter of time before a flame bait post is made which starts a downward spiral into childish squabbling.
I thought this was forum for adults rather than those who give the impression of having yet to reach double digits.

[eccles]

Mandat said:

It looks like the OP has measured the stroke width incorrectly, based on these 2 photos.

By my reckoning it looks like the actual width is at least 14mm, therefore legal.

You do realise that half the blade of the digi verniers is in shadow?
(apologies if you've taken this into account)

[Strudul]

Mandat said:

It looks like the OP has measured the stroke width incorrectly, based on these 2 photos.

By my reckoning it looks like the actual width is at least 14mm, therefore legal.

How so??

[Red 4]

OP - has your missus been stopped before re; the plates or did she fail the attitude test in spectacular fashion ?