£30 for registration plates

Poppycat

I am surprised you even seen traffic cops at all. Mind you I am all for them stopping real offenders including speed merchant's and mobile phone knumbskills of this world. That said if its against the law then technically your breaking it, but surely the outfit that did the plates are equal as guilty assuming its a legit practice and not some bogus company out to make a quick buck and not act in a professional capacity

Wig

Crabman wrote: »

Regarding your bluetooth headset, it's likely they were curious as to why you were wearing one when the Highway Code says you should switch your phone off before setting off.

The Highway Code - Free & Online

There is no law against using a hands free phone while driving. And I looked for the bit saying you should turn off your phone and could not find it. Not that it would make any difference anyway, it is either legal or not legal to use a phone whilst driving, and currently it is legal.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070309

Wig

amz84uk wrote: »

I've had the number plate for 4years, and before that, my brother had it on his car for 2 years. We've never been stopped by the police. I've driven behind the police and in front of them many times, but never been raised. The only character different is the "9" which has been adjusted - to illustrate an "A", but it's clearly visible. I've seen number plates in italics, others which move characters from one "group" to the other, and they've been driving around for a long time aswell. People alter the "8" to a "B", and put screws etc in - that's bad as its not displayed easily. My number plate is visible easily.

(Re: words in bold = guilty as charged) Why on Earth would you want to make a 9 look like an 'A' Do you honestly think anyone other than you cares that they are driving behind
B9 RRY or BA RRY ?

Hopefully now that they have got around to "doing you" they will eventually get around to "doing" everybody.

Now you say it was the "legal font" other than for the 9, Question is, are you sure? Cars registered after Sept 2001 need to have the new style font, only cars from prior to 2001 are allowed the old style font, you pointed out that these plates are at least 6 years old, which would indicate they might be old style plates on a newish car, which is not allowed.

Wig

A note in general,

I'm generally all for the police clamping down on twatplates, but it sounds like the OP (diesel) had a rough ride. A simple 7 day producer would have been enough, but maybe it was his roadside attitude which narked the officers?

EDIT: Having said that, OP did mention that his font was 20mm too small, the new font is 79mm, the old font is 89mm, so either he was 59mm or 69mm but assuming it was a post 2001 car, if it was 69mm it would only have been 10mm too small. This makes me wonder if the it's not as simple as we all thought (old style font plates on new car), maybe he really did have twatplates, in which case he got what he deserved.

There's no way I would condone altering numbers to look like letters, or incorrect spacing. This thread has been an eye opener for me, because I know someone who has put their old 1998 plates straight onto their brand new car, I will have to tell them they are strictly speaking illegal and the police do issue £30 fines.

amz84uk

Wig - have you been behind a Police Car and seen a oncoming driver on the phone - expecting the Police Car turns around and gives points + fine? The Police won't bother. I've noticed this several times.

Equally, I've seen the police turn a blind eye to those who literally park at Zebra crossings, and chat on the phone - and the Police cars and wardens just walk/drive on (not even warning the driver!)

I'm a law abiding citizen and always helped the Police with witness statements, drugs, etc, etc - trying to make the society a better place, but when they're easy enough to want to punish you over something petty, and come round asking for help! Never gonna help them again.

Wig

You're the one who's petty, you are not a law abiding person, and when you finally get pulled over for your illegal plates, you forget all the occasions the police have let you off, like those others that you mention. The world is not perfect, and the police don't always have the time or the inclination to stop and book everyone they see transgressing the rules. But if you keep on knowingly breaking the rules day in, day out, for 6+ years , why be surprised if eventually one policeman (probably on orders to turn less blind eyes to incorrect plates - due to this being the age of computers) finally pulls you over for your transgression?

Now I am not perfect, I regularly speed, I drive with balding tyres before I get round to changing them, I sometimes drive with no MOT (because I leave it so late, and then it fails on something). But I realise I am breaking the law, and I don't expect to be let off if I'm caught, and in these days of computers it is becoming a lot more risky to break the law, so I try even harder not to do those minor law infringements. Just to clarify, I also hate these people who whinge at people who try very hard to beat the charge, speeding for example, I have beaten quite a few NIPs I consider that part of the game, I might be annoyed for allowing myself to get caught, I don't hold it against the police who were only doing their duty trying to catch me. I consider it my duty to try to beat it, and if I can't then to pay up.

Come to think of it, as this was a traffic cop (Volvo Estate) There's a good chance that when he was behind you with ANPR switched on, he got an error message on your number plate. Are you really surprised that if a cop drives behind a car and gets an error message on the car infront that he follows it up? (realising of course that it was probably your fake 'A' making the error). But the point is it gave him an error. Whatever the error is, he's going to look more closely at you or me or anyone. And the only person you can blame is yourself. Put your toys back in the pram, and get some clean plates.

anewman

Pay fine, new plates (you could even get one with a nice little flag on it so long as it meets the legal requirements), job done.

peter999

diesel9181 wrote: »

anyway a few weeks after this i received a fixed penalty in the post for £30. should i just pay it? or wait to see if it goes to court and maybe save myself £30, or possibly incurr an even larger fine?

Don't ignore, the system keeps chugging.

If you don't accept the offer, the system will likely just chug away & you'll end up in court with costs.

Remember minor infringements are an excuse for the Police to stop & check you out for anything more serious they can find.

peter999

Ps: just seen OP is 3 months old.

zfrl

I spend ages & have a good laugh trying to figure out what some of these are supposed to say!

I know a copper who stopped someone with a personalised number plate & said "Could you get out of the car please ****?" The guy said "How do you know my name!"

But why do the DVLA charge a premium for number plates that can only be worth it if they are changed illegally?

LandyAndy

amz84uk wrote: »

The only character different is the "9" which has been adjusted - to illustrate an "A", but it's clearly visible.

What a TW9T.;)