i need clarification on law on number plate

[Whitesupraboy2]

i just got stopped for no front plate. Officer said its up to a possible fine of £60 and 3 points for failing to produce.

 

Let me off this time, also is it legal to have it on your dashboard?

 

A link to a DVLA web page to print off would be good

[AJI]

Not legal for number plate to be in window (although a lot of car dealers seem to chuck one in when you take a car for a test drive).

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm

 

I think it says in the 'In Brief' section that plates should be at the front and the rear of the car. (Although that's not clear enough to state whether the front windscreen can be classed as the front of the car).

[Guest rabskyline]

i have a booklet that states(from dvla) some cars may be permitted smaller plates(certain imported cars) if the manufacturer/car cant accomodate it in its design(ie european space sizing.and or have a whole european type approval (ie jap imports) for the std uk plates. there is a size involved and its this.

 

character height 64mm

width 44mm

stroke 10mm

space between 10mm

[Lewis]

its not and/or

 

it's AND

 

...and as the supra can accomodate a uk legal plate just fine then it must have one and it must be the proper sizing:

 

a)

Display of Vehicle Registration Marks on Imported Vehicles

(which have a restricted space for a standard sized number plate)

Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:

 

The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval

 

AND

 

 

The vehicle's construction/design cannot accomodate standard size number plates

Specifications for smaller sized plates (for certain imported vehicles)

 

 

Character Height

 

64mm

 

Character Width

 

44mm

 

Character Stroke

 

10mm

 

Space between characters

 

10mm

 

 

B) almost all supras fall into this category (except facelifts which must have a larger plate)

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

[Guest rabskyline]

here it is ! hope it helps !

[merckx]

Correct, we don't have any excuses for not having full size plates.

 

I've just had to fit them.

[Lewis]

yep, and it says "AND" mate.

 

As the supe can accomodate a regulation plate then it must have one.

[mr lover]

just be good and do it properly like me

[gaz1]

did not think you get points for that one

[squiffy]

i have heard if you dont have one, they will caution you, but if it is mis-represented thats when the fines etc come into play???

[Whitesupraboy2]

i have heard if you dont have one, they will caution you, but if it is mis-represented thats when the fines etc come into play???

 

thats what i heard and i said to the guy its only £30 fine if its missing and he said no it could be up to £60 fine and 3 points. he wasnt being funny or arsey about it but was just saying

[Guest rabskyline]

i had the smaller plate on my skyline r33 but the fron and rear spaces are for square plates and werent broad enough to take the uk ones. ive heard through my mate (who is a plod) that there was a rumour in his station that the average speed cameras cant read the stacked plates , only the linear type ! but no guarantees as he said the traffic cops dont want this to be common knowledge and havent told anyone officially ! anyone else heard this ?

[ivan]

I got a £30 fine and producer in Broadstone 2 years ago for a small plate. The young bitch policewoman who did me said that it didn't attract any points.

[AJI]

the stacked plates issue only relates to the on-board database units within police cars if I remember correctly.

Road side speed cameras work from imagery but the on-board police car units use character recognition software.

These are the units which will beep if a police car pass you and you are not tax and tested.

I'm not sure what the issue is with specs cameras... I think these also use imagery and therefore stacked plates will still be recognised.

 

Scary thing on the DVLA website is that it states a max. fine of £1000. I wonder how many people have been hit with that though?

[SimonB]

I'm not sure what the issue is with specs cameras... I think these also use imagery and therefore stacked plates will still be recognised.

 

They use character recognition - each camera reads the plate and compares the time with the earlier cameras and uses the elapsed time to work out your average speed. They will read stacked plates though, and I'd be suprised if the others won't too, it's a pretty trivial bit of image recognition.