Obscured Number Plates

[elms]

What is the penalty for driving without or obscured rear plates. For example say some local toe rag put a big piece of black tape across it!!!

[hertsbiker]

without=£30 fine
covered=£5000 fine

something about perverting the course of justice, or some such stupidity. The "Preventing our scamera from fleecing you fine". Unless you can prove it wasn't you... tricky.

[elms]

Off it comes then!!!!!!!!!!

[Captain Muppet]

And the fine for having a front plate the hinges at the top so it gets blown under the bumper at speed?

[aerotec]

i thought that i invented that have you patented the idea yet

[Captain Muppet]

Not my idea - I saw it on an RX7 two years ago, above 30mph the numberplate was tucked under the bumper into the radiator grill...

[Mr E]

So, hang on. Get camera'd. £60.

Have no plate so they can't find you. £30.

Tricky one that.

Velcro?

Quick release button and a spare in the boot?

Not that I'd possibly condone such a thing.

[Captain Muppet]

I believe Danger Mouse's front plate falls off with satisfying regularity...

[Eliminator]

Are there really no points for taking off your number plate????

Sorted then. Far cheaper than:

Scamra's
Gatso's
Truvalo's
Kens congestion charge
etc
etc
etc

[elms]

This is an interesting point, does anyone actually know if points can be applied to a license if there is no rear or front number plate??

[toad_oftoadhall]

elms said:

This is an interesting point, does anyone actually know if points can be applied to a license if there is no rear or front number plate??

It is not endorsable.

If the rozzers catch you a few times they may lose patience and talk to the DVLA who will withdraw your reg number forcing you to drive a Q-plate. [1]

However in 99.999 per cent of case plod will give you 20 quid fine and insist you put it back on.

I repeat it is not endorsable.

[1] See uk.rec.motorcycles for discussion about this.

[elms]

It could almost be worth taking off the rear plate, if you were to go on a long trek, on motorways etc, and dont want to sit at 70 all the way?!

[deltaf]

So if the DVLA forced you to have a "Q" plate, and that gets left off as well, then theres no change.
Big deal, leave em orf!

[Cooperman]

The real danger from scameras is mainly from the laser vans and almost entirely so if you have a 'road angel' or similar locater.
In order to convict using photographic evidence the full number plate must be on the photo, so if you have happened to hit, say, a pheasant or a cat, which broke your front plate in half any photo would be unacceptable, (and, yes, I have had a plate broken in this way) even if they could work out your full number. Of course, you should go into the nearest number plate dealer and get a new one, but under the new legislation you can only get a new plate by producing your V5, a photo-identity document (passport, d/l, etc,) and proof of address. So it could be a few days or longer to get a replacement front plate. Even if you got stopped I doubt if a normal road traffic patrol would do any more than tell you to get a new one asap. In the meantime you are laser and truvelo free!

[gh0st]

Remeber they just turn round and write down your rear numberplate if they are in a scamera - this is how they get the bikes done.

However a big fk you would go out to all the SPECS and Truvelo's!!!

[Cooperman]

How does that work then, if they just write down your number they have no photographic evidence on which to base the NIP. They can't clock a vehicle with no front plate, such as a bike, then write down the number off the back of a bike by turning around and looking out of the front window, then rely on a photo with no number plate. That ain't proper evidence, surely. What do you think Madcop?

[richard sails]

MC has explained that on another thread

The operator signs a statment detailing the number plate and it is classed as acceptable evidence.