A question about having 2 different "numberplates"

A question about having 2 different "numberplates"

Author
Discussion

Pit Pony

Original Poster:

8,731 posts

122 months

Monday 1st April
quotequote all
Pedantic post.

On Sunday I was down the beach carpark pushing my grandson in his pushchair, when I noticed a police quadbike, parked up chatting to the national Trust volunteers trying to flog memberships.

On the back of the quad bike, there were 2 numberplates, one an actual DVLA issued number and the other identical in size, identical font, identical materials, black letters on yellow reflective background. attached to the top box, with lighting.

Not a DVLA issued number, because it read POLICE

Now here's the question. How did they get them made up legally ? Did they make them up themselves? If they did, are they allowed to display numberplates that aren't actually what's on the V5. Obviously they are the police so can do what they like and nobody is going to say anything. But technically isn't it all a bit dodgy?

Did not seem to have a makers mark, but from a distance seemed to have a BS kitemark or something in the corner.

Pit Pony

Original Poster:

8,731 posts

122 months

Tuesday 2nd April
quotequote all
Sebring440 said:
Pit Pony said:
Pedantic post.

On Sunday I was down the beach carpark pushing my grandson in his pushchair, when I noticed a police quadbike, parked up chatting to the national Trust volunteers trying to flog memberships.

On the back of the quad bike, there were 2 numberplates, one an actual DVLA issued number and the other identical in size, identical font, identical materials, black letters on yellow reflective background. attached to the top box, with lighting.

Not a DVLA issued number, because it read POLICE

Now here's the question. How did they get them made up legally ? Did they make them up themselves? If they did, are they allowed to display numberplates that aren't actually what's on the V5. Obviously they are the police so can do what they like and nobody is going to say anything. But technically isn't it all a bit dodgy?

Did not seem to have a makers mark, but from a distance seemed to have a BS kitemark or something in the corner.
Have you seriously got nothing better to do this evening?

If it upsets you so much, complain most strenuously to your force's crime commissioner. Also post on their Twitter and Facebook accounts. Let them know your feelings!
Harsh. It's interesting what comes into my mind occassionally. I thought I'd share with friends the thing that came into my mind yesterday.

Maybe you should try to be more kind.

Pit Pony

Original Poster:

8,731 posts

122 months

Tuesday 2nd April
quotequote all
littleredrooster said:
Pit Pony said:
On the back of the quad bike, there were 2 numberplates...
No, I think you'll find that there was one 'numberplate' and one reflective sign as allowed by the regulations which govern identification of Emergency (and other) vehicles.
Do regulations allow it to look and feel like a numberplate ?

Pit Pony

Original Poster:

8,731 posts

122 months

Tuesday 2nd April
quotequote all
Hol said:
martinbiz said:
pork911 said:
Nibbles_bits said:
and isn't being used as a number plate
Is it not?
What do you think? Is it being used to represent the VRM of the vehicle concerned?
No. It isn’t, as there was a separate number plate for that.

Only someone a few sandwiches short of a picnic would look at the described scenario and mumble incoherently to themselves…”I wonder which one is the DVLA registration number”.
I incoherently mumbled to myself, "Are you allowed a second plate that is effectively a show plate on the back of a vehicle near the numberplate.?"

I knew which was which obviously.


I later incoherently mumbled to myself "So the National Trust don't mind them riding down a footpath on a quadbike. No wonder the footpaths are falling apart"