the cold hard facts on front licence plates? **SOLVED**

[andycaca]

hi

i got pulled by a friendly copper yesterday who took great delight in saying my front plate was illegal for two reasons 1) being too small 2) being displayed on the bonnet.

i hold my hand up and say the plate is technically too small (even tho i asked the guy who made it for a 100% legal size one) as i measured it this morning as per DVLA regulations. Nowhere on that PDF is instruction as to where the plate should be sited.

I know caterfield types and one of the mazda 2-seaters have a sticker on the front of the bonnet, so i reasonably thought there should be no problem for my car either.

heres a pic of where my licence number is displayed - http://andrewmcc.com/painted165/stickersblah2.jpg

so, does anyone know the hard facts on registration number display. i have had a quick look on google but cant seem to get past all the companies trying to sell me private plates!

any help will be greatly appreciated

andy
xx

edit: wouldnt you know, one last attempt and i found this gem - http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/20010561.htm

Fixing of front registration plates: vehicles registered on or after the relevant date
6. - (1) This regulation applies to vehicles, other than works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines, first registered on or after the relevant date.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (5), a registration plate must be fixed on the front of the vehicle in the manner required by paragraph (3).

(3) 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,

(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 (4).

[SirCharles]

If you ever need legal advice, there's a room within a forum from back in the day which we set up with norfolk police. (I used to visit wymondham police staion once every couple of months).

Ignore the rest of the forum. Go to this and read in. Questions are answered by traffic officers. It's very handy. If you don't want to register, post questions and I'll relay them.

[andycaca]

thanks charles, just had a quick look and that forum seems excellent

[Andy_Cat]

If you ever need legal advice, there's a room within a forum from back in the day which we set up with norfolk police. (I used to visit wymondham police staion once every couple of months).

What ever happened with a the partnership Charlie :?:

[Stuart]

I am trying to set up something similar to the above on here

I think with any modified plates and there positioning, we all have to take it on the chin when caught out. I think generally you can get away with one thing but trying to get away with both being smaller and slapped up on the bonnet, not even the leading edge, is asking for it. I am sure the kit car types are afforded greater leniency becuase the Police do not have such an obvious point of reference to compare too.

[max1]

think the trick is to carry your front number plate on the floor in the front and if you are unlucky enough to get stopped then explain how some one backed into your car that morning and knocked it off . you were going to book it in to the garage to be re fitted as soon as possible . so a friend told me !!!

[Andy_Cat]

I just asked a friend of mine who is a traffic officer and he sent me this

Fixing of front registration plates: vehicles registered on or after the relevant date
(1) This regulation applies to vehicles, other than works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines, first registered on or after the relevant date.

(2)a registration plate must be fixed on the front of the vehicle in the manner required by paragraph (3).

(3) 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,

(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 (4).

So as far as he is concerned the location of the plate isnt an issue as long as it is easy to identify and read :?: :!:

[andycaca]

funnily enough thats exactly what i quoted in my first post

[Andy_Cat]

funnily enough thats exactly what i quoted in my first post

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2001/20010561.htm

Thats the link he sent me :lol:

[lsop]

Andy,

why can you not mount the plate vertically??