I need encouragement!
Discussion
bennno said: Good job its only for display purposes then and i fit a road legal one if I drive anywhere. Obviously given that theres a maximum fine equivalent to 2/3 days wages I simply couldnt afford to risk it!
If you did drive it like this then what sort of fine could you potentially expect, I see so many very dodgy ones [you know an abundance of yellow and black dots, itallic letters, letters at a slant etc] that i dont think mine overall is that bad?
Bennno
>> Edited by bennno on Monday 10th March 14:00
Bennno, the legislation has changed in the last few years in response to the need for Gatso's etc to be able to read the plates (that's the real reason). The legislation specifies relative spacing, character sizes and fonts as well as plate sizes, colours etc. It also imposes restrictions on the manufacture of plates and a liability on the 'plate makers' to comply with the regulations.
NUMBER PLATES FITTED AFTER 1 SEPTEMBER 2001
Number plates fitted after 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown below.
Characters
Height 79mm
Width (except the figure 1 or letter l) 50mm
Stroke 14mm
Space between characters 11mm
Space between groups 33mm
Top, bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm
NUMBER PLATES FITTED BEFORE 1 SEPTEMBER 2001
Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown in one of the two groups below
Characters Group 1 Group 2
Height 89mm 79mm
Width (except the figure 1or letter l) 64mm 57mm
Stroke 16mm 14mm
Space between characters 13mm 11mm
Space between groups 38mm 33mm
Side margins (minimum) 13mm 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm 19mm
THE LAW
The law states that,
You must not alter, rearrange or misrepresent the letters or numbers
Characters must not be moved from one group to the other (e.g. A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC).
Offences may result in any or all of the following:
A fine of up to £1,000
The registration mark may be WITHDRAWN
The vehicle may FAIL the MOT test
Full details of the requirements are included in The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001
The fine will vary but I think the max could be as high as £1000. It would take a particulary vindictive black rat to push this all the way through though, but it does happen. Be aware that the registration number itself can be confiscated with no compensationto you for the loss.... this is the buggeration factor here.
If you do get stopped, ask to be dealt with by way of the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (VDRS). This gives you the opportunity to get the plates sorted out and then checked for compliance at an MOT centre.
The VDRS scheme is the ace in the pack in dealing with Constuction and Use offences.... tyres, lights etc.
Alf Essex said: Flasher/Bennno,
I'm with you guys...whats wrong with Benno's plate!...can't understand '999's comments.
Being an 'Essex Boy' the amount of cars I see with poxy reg plates with their mandatory blue 'washer' lights...racing around Southend every weekend is untrue. The plates they display far more liable for prosecution but the police do nothing to stop them around here!!
At least Bennno's plate has correct sizing etc...not minuscule letters that you couldn't read if involved in an accident or worse. At least Bennno does it with style, a TVR is no boy racers car is it!
Alan.
See above.... it's not being a killjoy, it's just fact.
bennno said:
where those regs get interesting is where you have a pre 2001 number on a post 2001 car.
which rules apply then?
Bennno
It's the date of first registration of the vehicle that generally dictates situation. There are variations, mostly to do with imported vehicles, that rely upon the date of manufacture. So in your example, a car first registered after 2001, even if fitted with a registration plate that displays a number pre 2001, must comply with the new regulations. So your plate should read 'T3SOR' without the extra spacing between the O and the R
Have to say if all we are talking about is some spacing between the O and the R 
then...whats this country coming to!
Round my way crime is increasing (I've been burgled twice - no help from Police), we have no bobbies on the beat...and yet the Police will target individuals like Bennno because of a space between the O and R sorry I must be missing something!
Sorry '999' no offence (no pun intended
) but its a question of priorities...Police need to get the real crime sorted before targeting traffic offences at this micro level.
Thats my political statement for the day
...I feel much better now!
Alan.
then...whats this country coming to! Round my way crime is increasing (I've been burgled twice - no help from Police), we have no bobbies on the beat...and yet the Police will target individuals like Bennno because of a space between the O and R sorry I must be missing something!
Sorry '999' no offence (no pun intended
) but its a question of priorities...Police need to get the real crime sorted before targeting traffic offences at this micro level. Thats my political statement for the day
...I feel much better now! Alan.
Alf Essex said: Have to say if all we are talking about is some spacing between the O and the R
Round my way crime is increasing (I've been burgled twice - no help from Police), we have no bobbies on the beat...and yet the Police will target individuals like Bennno because of a space between the O and R sorry I must be missing something!
Sorry '999' no offence (no pun intended
Thats my political statement for the day
Alan.
Alf, we're not discussing Policing strategies or how Law and Order is enforced in any given location, merely expanding on our knowledge of the legislation in relation to Registration Plates.
However there is proof (not my opinion) that zero tolerance does work..vis a vis Ray Mallon and his experiments oop North. But I'm glad you feel better.
Ok I have another question on plate design.
My last plate was only 3 characters, two numbers and one letter. If I set the spacing and characters out as prescribed but then shorten the whole plate is that still legal?
Characters and spacing would be as prescribed in the info given in previous posts, I would only be cutting off the excess plate.
I have also seen two plates locally which fly in the face of these regulations with no adverse effect it seems as they have been around for quite a while.
DOB 50N - represtented on an AMG S class Merc as 'DOBSON' and ROB 50N - again on the car as ROBSON. Or maybe it's just that they can afford to keep paying their fines! The only concession on these plates is a slight flattening of the 'S' in one corner.
My last plate was only 3 characters, two numbers and one letter. If I set the spacing and characters out as prescribed but then shorten the whole plate is that still legal?
Characters and spacing would be as prescribed in the info given in previous posts, I would only be cutting off the excess plate.
I have also seen two plates locally which fly in the face of these regulations with no adverse effect it seems as they have been around for quite a while.
DOB 50N - represtented on an AMG S class Merc as 'DOBSON' and ROB 50N - again on the car as ROBSON. Or maybe it's just that they can afford to keep paying their fines! The only concession on these plates is a slight flattening of the 'S' in one corner.
T350 Guy said: Ok I have another question on plate design.
My last plate was only 3 characters, two numbers and one letter. If I set the spacing and characters out as prescribed but then shorten the whole plate is that still legal?
Characters and spacing would be as prescribed in the info given in previous posts, I would only be cutting off the excess plate.
I have also seen two plates locally which fly in the face of these regulations with no adverse effect it seems as they have been around for quite a while.
DOB 50N - represtented on an AMG S class Merc as 'DOBSON' and ROB 50N - again on the car as ROBSON. Or maybe it's just that they can afford to keep paying their fines! The only concession on these plates is a slight flattening of the 'S' in one corner.
Well the legislation does now dictate the size of the plates as well as the characters etc. So in theory a shortened plate will be unlawful, but in reality it's no problem.
The ROB 50N etc. are examples where they clearly contravene the regs but as yet haven't been dealt with. Like Alf suggests they are pretty low priority. But rest assured, if the courts have dealt with them once and they continue to flout the legislation, then the registration number will be withdrawn, leaving the owner with no plate, no number and significant financial loss if the number was worth a bit...
>> Edited by **999** on Tuesday 11th March 12:33
What about the front plate? Apparently these are sent to the factory for curving to fit the bodywork. I was told the old vinyl type plate that you used to find on swoopy nosed older cars is now illegal. Is that so? I'd much rather have a plate on the front that was totally flush with the bonnet.
Duncan
Duncan
**999** said:
flasher said: Nothing wrong with the plate bennno, he's just pedantic....
Anyway snakes, you should hold out for the T350 convertible....
Flasher, if you don't like the legislation in this country, may I suggest you try another..
and if you don't like Bennno's plate why don't you
off?
**999** said: So your plate should read 'T3SOR'
'T3 SOR' isnt it?
Anyway, I have to say that when I saw bennnos plate I thought it was the perfectly legal plate. I dont see how a gatso can't recognise that? Its not as if its in some sort of stupid spangley font. Nice plate Bennno, leave it as it is, looks superb.
Ben CA
'B3NCA' NOT>> 'B3 NCA'
duncan said: What about the front plate? Apparently these are sent to the factory for curving to fit the bodywork. I was told the old vinyl type plate that you used to find on swoopy nosed older cars is now illegal. Is that so? I'd much rather have a plate on the front that was totally flush with the bonnet.
Duncan
I've seen HHC's car and the front plate fits the curves very nicely (bit like my underpants, really). It's only a few mm proud of the surface.
christof said: Have I missed something, can't believe you are talking about spaces on numberplates...
Let's talk about the cars again or girls or even football...
Christof
Bang on christof!! I'm getting fed up with it too, (as you can tell from my post!!!)
When is your car due mate????
Mine is fantastic!!!
flasher said:
christof said: Have I missed something, can't believe you are talking about spaces on numberplates...
Let's talk about the cars again or girls or even football...
Bang on christof!! I'm getting fed up with it too, (as you can tell from my post!!!)
When is your car due mate????
Mine is fantastic!!!
Any excuse to advertise your car eh Andy
Ours is super cool too
flasher said:
**999** said:
flasher said: Nothing wrong with the plate bennno, he's just pedantic....
Anyway snakes, you should hold out for the T350 convertible....
Flasher, if you don't like the legislation in this country, may I suggest you try another..
and if you don't like Bennno's plate why don't you
Edited to remove my previous comment.
Flasher, if you don't like what you read, then don't read it. If you don't like the fact that Laws apply to just about everything in relation to motor vehicles then go buy a push bike. You say I was being pedantic, well no, just outlining the facts and offering you some friendly advice
The information on this thread was supplied to assist those asking questions in relation to number plates. You have expressed an opinion that you do not agree with what has been said. That's fine, but don't resort to using the sort of insults that I'd expect from some drunken yob on a Friday night... not much to ask is it?
>> Edited by **999** on Wednesday 12th March 10:06
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