Small Plates Again....

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by comfysofa, Jun 20, 2023.

  1. So, my mate sent me this....this is news to me....so you can get a fixed penalty now for a small plate...when did that law change then.?

    Also to add Wiltshire Police dont do themselves any favours by putting up a smug post as well....you [The filth] wanna make people like you - well, you wont do it that way....based on the post and how they were attempting to be funny even a full size plate is smaller than the fixed penalty....

    Before anyone starts on me about hating the police i dont....ive watched a few videos when i could only applaud the way they handle themselves in some situations...that being said ive never had a soft spot for traffic (due to a very long time ago been openly threatened by them when i visited Avon Street) when it was open in Bristol... a long story for another time. My wifes cousins husband works at a reasonably high level at a constabulary up north and even he says "yeah - theres departments...and theres traffic...theyre an odd bunch..." - and hes a biker as well...
    WhatsApp Image 2023-06-19 at 21.07.59.jpg
    So, my question is, is obviously he got stuck for the plate size....but, what about the placement...? is there a law against that...after all - you can view it from the rear...

    Look forward to any opinions and wild conjecture...
     
  2. I thought that was always the case. No points, just a fine.
     
  3. Yup, used to be £60 fine. Now £100. Meh, its my vanity tax. I get done about once per 2yrs. The plod that have done me over the years have always been pretty reasonable about it.
     
  4. You takes yer risk(small plate) and pays yer fine. Don’t cry about it.
    No rear reflector or light probably
    Having a plate like that one is just asking to be pulled over.
     
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  5. There is. Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001
    Briefly....
    (5) This paragraph requires the plate to be fixed—

    (a)vertically or, where that is not reasonably practicable, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable, and

    (b)in such a position that in normal daylight the characters of the registration mark are easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having the diagonal length specified in paragraph (6).
     
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  6. That isn't just a small plate, its a hidden plate too. Not visible to other road users.

    The rider is a twat. I bet he got a warning that get caught again and they will remove the registration number from the bike and give him a Q plate.

    Most police forces don't have a separate traffic division anymore i believe.
     
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  7. Mine, not too small. Plus I always add "Sorry" as a footnote to my plates. Ive gotten away with a smile and a ticking off from plod more than Ive been fined.

    22.jpg
     
  8. If anyone has ever seen motorcycle trade plates that are issued by the DVLA, you will notice that the plate is smaller and the digits are smaller than a normal legal number plate. So how can this be right.
     
  9. Because they aren't Vehicle Registration Marks, they are UK Government issued Trade Licences and subject to different legislation. In essence they are tax discs for want of a better analogy
     
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  10. That bike in the picture is asking to be pulled mainly because of the piss take position of the plate. All my bikes have slightly smaller plates and have done for the last 30 odd years of riding and I’ve never been done for them. I mount them on a tail tidy with a number plate light and a small reflector.
     
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  11. I like your thinking there! Mine say Duuucaaati... But I may change that for "Sorry"!
     
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  12. So, as long as its vertical (or as close as) then you could set it under the rear? - i will say that my z has had the accused plate positioning for years....although due to the angle of the rear of mine....not as pronounced as that...
     
  13. Not sure that's a thing... I know you can have private plates taken away for spacing/size/legibility issues and an age related VRN issued, but not put on a Q plate - nothing about having a plate removed warrants the Q, I.e the age or identity of the vehicle is not in doubt, it hasn't been stolen/recovered, had the VIN tampered with or been built up from parts.

    I've ran all sorts of small plates, never had any bother, was pulled recently for speeding and they didn't even mention the plate (9x3 single line). the owner of that bike was asking for it with the stupid angle of it, if he'd played the game and had a sensibly sized small plate in the right position nobody would have cared.
     
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  14. I am also "Yes Sir, No Sir, Three bags full Sir" polite and amiable to them. This helps.
     
  15. The “replaced with a Q plate” is a huge urban legend. It would be issued an appropriate age related plate.
     
  16. Haha, not entirely sure I could manage that.. :D
     
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  17. Bit of an overview, https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates. Although I’ve not been able to find any reference, my understanding is the number plate must also be readable by a speed and ANPR cameras. Also pretty sure, the construction and use act requires the motorcycle number plate to be the last thing on the bike which is why you see some awful OE tail tidies. Andy
     
    #17 Android853sp, Jun 20, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2023
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  18. Enjoy your fine. I'll do anything to weasel a copper. I learnt the hard way.
     
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  19. Pretty sure you can't just get "issued a Q Plate" as i did along time ago apply for a Q plate...a guy from the DVLC turns up to vet it and then authorize. I think "Q" is "History unknown"...as thats what mine was...an old GSXR 7-11 conversion frankenstein'd out of loads of different bikes...
     
    #19 comfysofa, Jun 20, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2023
  20. I used to run a small(er) plate and never had any bovver.
    The rider/owner in the pic is asking for it, and appears to have got it.
     
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