'It Just Fell Off"

[Greg_D]

While motorbikes continue to not be required to run front plates, i will continue to not give a s**t if folk don't run them on cars.

[pquinn]

The Wookie said:

there isn't an epidemic of people driving around with front plates.

There is if you're looking at certain types of car.

[The Wookie]

pquinn said:

There is if you're looking at certain types of car.

If it's a small number then who cares beyond whether if they get spotted they'll get nicked or not.

[anonymous-user]

Wookie, the cold hard reality is that the person running that police forces twitter account understands how social media works.

They want to drive their profile, get views, followers and increase engagement.

They know that social media thrives on negative attention, fear, hatred, envy and anger.

This story evokes anger at the rich lambo owner flouting the law and envy in those that would like to be in a position to own it. The story wouldn't get the same engagement if it was 75 year old Beryl and her 1.0 Micra missing a plate.

I'm not saying any of this is good or what ought to be, it's just what is in our online social media age.

[Greg_D]

Gameface said:

So much bks on here.

It's not one of six for starters.

And as others have said, if it was a Ford we wouldn't be made aware of it.

It's an easy nick and something to boast about in the canteen.

2 of my cars haven't got front plates on. Neither did the third until recently.

Got a tug for it but the coppers knew me and asked me to put one on instead of fining me.

Got the smallest possible legal stick on plate and will do the same on the others of it comes to it.

65 x 45 with a 10mm border, in case you're interested (minimum motorcycle sizes)

[The Wookie]

Sam.M said:

Wookie, the cold hard reality is that the person running that police forces twitter account understands how social media works.

They want to drive their profile, get views, followers and increase engagement.

They know that social media thrives on negative attention, fear, hatred, envy and anger.

This story evokes anger at the rich lambo owner flouting the law and envy in those that would like to be in a position to own it. The story wouldn't get the same engagement ifit was Beryl and her 1.0 Micra missing a plate.

I'm not saying any of this is good or what ought to be, it's just what is in our online social media age.

Exactly, and that's exactly my problem with it. What annoys me is that at no point has anyone thought 'What is a police force actually for and what do people actually need from it?'

Social media is full of people trying to pitch one type of prejudice being alright and another being wrong, it fks me off and the police should be above that sort of crap.

[devnull]

"cash or card, officer?"

who cares.

[anonymous-user]

The Wookie said:

Sam.M said:

Wookie, the cold hard reality is that the person running that police forces twitter account understands how social media works.

They want to drive their profile, get views, followers and increase engagement.

They know that social media thrives on negative attention, fear, hatred, envy and anger.

This story evokes anger at the rich lambo owner flouting the law and envy in those that would like to be in a position to own it. The story wouldn't get the same engagement ifit was Beryl and her 1.0 Micra missing a plate.

I'm not saying any of this is good or what ought to be, it's just what is in our online social media age.

Exactly, and that's exactly my problem with it. What annoys me is that at no point has anyone thought 'What is a police force actually for and what do people actually need from it?'

Social media is full of people trying to pitch one type of prejudice being alright and another being wrong, it fks me off and the police should be above that sort of crap.

I fully agree. It's a cliché but it's true, the police could be spending my tax money on better things than managing their Tw@tter account.

[Red 4]

Leon R said:

Time to ask my favorite question that nobody can ever answer.

What crucial thing does a front number plate do on a car that it doesn't need to do on a motorbike?

I can answer that question but it's more about what does a number plate on a car not do (unless it's a one in a billion freakish thing) as opposed to what a number plate on a motorbike could do.

I'm sure, if you think about it, you can work it out.

Plus the fact that mounting points are difficult to find on modern bikes. Unless you like your plate sideways, which although still difficult rather defeats the object.

[SpeckledJim]

The Wookie said:

Exactly, and that's exactly my problem with it. What annoys me is that at no point has anyone thought 'What is a police force actually for and what do people actually need from it?'

Social media is full of people trying to pitch one type of prejudice being alright and another being wrong, it fks me off and the police should be above that sort of crap.

Playing devil's advocate now, but ideally the police is for preventing and solving crime. Part of that is 'broken window' theory which means they have to try to keep a lid on small problems, otherwise bigger problems develop.

Removing your car's number plate is a deliberate act, stating you've no respect for that particular law. That's an attitude which snowballs.

So sadly the police have to spend some time stamping on it. Time which would be ideally be spent on something more serious, if Johnny Mememe hadn't taken it upon himself to cause the problem, for no real benefit to anyone.

[Jaguar steve]

Fastchas said:

Red 4 said:

Lord Marylebone said:

Why anyone cares about front number plate offences I will never know.

Put a front plate on your car or don't, I really do not care.

Unlike many other motoring offences, it affects no one other than the Police, speed camera operators and possibly local councils.

What if you had your extremely rarerare, £340k, brightly coloured, loud, look at me supercar nicked and the police couldn't identify it when it drove past them because it had no plate ?

You wouldn't be so self righteous and full of indignation then, would you ...

Or...

If everyone did the same and didn't care about number plates we could just all drive like arses, ignoring all the 30mph's in built up areas, crash into other peoples cars with impunity, make off without paying for fuel, shopping etc.
Or we could behave with civility knowing that acts like these might be recorded somewhere and are traceable to your doorstep.

Pretty much nail on head there.

It's not really the missing number plate that pisses people off - it's the arrogant fkuck the law attitude that the missing number plate represents that does.

[Leon R]

Red 4 said:

Leon R said:

Time to ask my favorite question that nobody can ever answer.

What crucial thing does a front number plate do on a car that it doesn't need to do on a motorbike?

I can answer that question but it's more about what does a number plate on a car not do (unless it's a one in a billion freakish thing) as opposed to what a number plate on a motorbike could do.

I'm sure, if you think about it, you can work it out.

Plus the fact that mounting points are difficult to find on modern bikes. Unless you like your plate sideways, which although still difficult rather defeats the object.

That doesn't answer the question though.

Obviously laws can be enforced on bikes even without a front plate so why do cars need them?

If it is a safety thing then why are older bikes given a choice about having one?

[yellowjack]

The Wookie said:

pquinn said:

That old chestnut? 'Jealous', or just 'why do you think the rules don't apply to you, you ?'

No different than if it was some stty old Golf or A3 with a US spec grill.

And you've proven my point exactly, they probably wouldn't have bothered putting it on twitter if it was a stty old Golf or A3.

Omitting the front plate isn't exactly exclusive to owners of expensive cars, and by the fact that it's only a £100 fine it's clearly considered a minor offence which they've correctly dealt with, so why the fk should we care?

It's Bournemouth. There is an issue (whether perceived or real) with owners/drivers of "performance" cars behaving badly in town. It's not just Lambos, etc. BMWs, Audis, warmed over Fords, Hondas, all sorts. Doing laps of Westover Road/Hinton Road at night. F1 style starts repeatedly. Sitting outside some gym or other revving the tits of their cars. And because it's also full of hotels with people trying to get some kip, and residential properties above shops, etc. there are a lot of complaints to Police about such behaviour. So here they are, rightly doing something about it, in order to appease those who feel their lives are blighted by such wkspangles. Clearly the 'No Excuses' team were in the area, couldn't identify any moving traffic offences being committed by this driver, but they happened to notice that the number plate "literally must have just fallen off, officer..." and felt that turning a blind eye or dealing with the offence by means of a warning wasn't sufficient in this case.

I cycle home up Hinton Road regularly. I hate these Muppets. So for me, the more time they spend at the roadside dealing with paperwork relating to "minor offences", and the more the Police have a visible presence there, the less likely I am to be clouted from behind by one of these ponces showing off to their mates. I love a nice car as much as anyone, but there's a time and a place to be exploring the performance of these things, and a town centre late into the night isn't it. More power to Dorset Constabulary's 'No Excuses' team in this case.

[Bigends]

VDRS would have been more effective than the small fine. It forces the driver to get a proper plate made and fitted , then inspected.

[Red 4]

Leon R said:

Red 4 said:

Leon R said:

Time to ask my favorite question that nobody can ever answer.

What crucial thing does a front number plate do on a car that it doesn't need to do on a motorbike?

I can answer that question but it's more about what does a number plate on a car not do (unless it's a one in a billion freakish thing) as opposed to what a number plate on a motorbike could do.

I'm sure, if you think about it, you can work it out.

Plus the fact that mounting points are difficult to find on modern bikes. Unless you like your plate sideways, which although still difficult rather defeats the object.

That doesn't answer the question though.

Obviously laws can be enforced on bikes even without a front plate so why do cars need them?

If it is a safety thing then why are older bikes given a choice about having one?

Because older bikes had them and if you remove the plate you are still left with mounting points that may be classed as "dangerous" - or at least not ideal - without a plate fitted.

It's an offence to have a front number plate fitted to a motorcycle registered after September 2000 (could be 20O1 but I CBA checking).

The safety downsides probably outweighed the identification benefits in the decision makers and legislators heads.
There's your answer. You are, of course, entitled to disagree with it but it is what it is.

[SpeckledJim]

Or a Knobhead Awareness Course.

A day in a chilly Village Hall looking at pictures of Russell Brand and Jamie Oliver and Gok Wan and Jeremy Clarkson and some large mirrors.

£100 a head, but it's the minimum 8 hours to get your KAC certificate (and tattoo) which will really sting.

[teapea]

When I picked up my Huracan from a main dealer.

I asked why there was a spare number plate in the boot.
They then pointed out they don't fit one on the front.

I then spent a good month arguing with them about fitting a front plate, bare in mind this was a main dealer.

Anyway in the end I bought a stick on one, but the dealers attitude was "it's just a fine don't worry about it".

[Greg_D]

Red 4 said:

Plus the fact that mounting points are difficult to find on modern bikes. Unless you like your plate sideways, which although still difficult rather defeats the object.

have you seen a lamborghini front bumper??? the plate looks ridiculous whichever way you mount it. much like a modern bike...

[SpeckledJim]

Greg_D said:

have you seen a lamborghini front bumper??? the plate looks ridiculous whichever way you mount it. much like a modern bike...

But the law can't be 'you must display a front number plate unless you don't think it looks very nice', can it.

[dandarez]

Greg_D said:

Red 4 said:

Plus the fact that mounting points are difficult to find on modern bikes. Unless you like your plate sideways, which although still difficult rather defeats the object.

have you seen a lamborghini front bumper??? the plate looks ridiculous whichever way you mount it. much like a modern bike...

Lambo's have a 'front bumper'?
Ok, I know what you mean, but you can fit/stick a plate if wanted to them.



Anyway, here's another take on the thread title.

I only looked in this thread because those words (well, three of 'em: 'It fell off') helped me get the girl way beyond not just my dreams but many others, on one particular night many moons ago in a certain hotel hang out where we used to congregate.
That's all I'm saying, except it was nothing serious that 'fell off', they were just those three words I used, and bingo, I was in!!

So, if you're looking in here friend, here's another fking HUGE thank you!
That's to one of my mates whose idea it been that night back then.