Number plate spacing?

Johno100

Deastons wrote: »

So how do people get away with it? Like I mentioned above, I see A LOT of them and more often than not, it's someone who looks very unassuming driving the car. A mum or dad or something. Not like it's a teen boy racer.

So they go to the effort of obtaining an illegally spaced plate (every time I've bought a plate online I've had to show my V5C, so not sure how they do it), and then remove the plate and replace it with a legal one every time it's MOTd?

And for what?! Seems like such an effort for no real reason.

Such an effort? Two screws.

I know of individuals who put their catalytic converter back on before their MOT, (the rest of the time it lives in their spare bedroom:D).

Navigator123

Why use personal plates at all!

If I have just spent £X thousands on a new or preloved car I want the world to know how new it is and how wonderful.

A personalised plate means the car could be new or 45 years old.

Nasqueron

Navigator123 wrote: »

Why use personal plates at all!

If I have just spent £X thousands on a new or preloved car I want the world to know how new it is and how wonderful.

A personalised plate means the car could be new or 45 years old.

Or the flip side, it disguises an old car's age if it's well maintained. Don't have a personal plate but I can see why a legit one (e.g. your initials) or a good one (s1nks) could work but I'd support automatic fines for anyone who deliberately messes around with the plate, particularly those who use dots or dodgy characters to make it seem something that it's not

SallyDucati

Nasqueron wrote: »

Or the flip side, it disguises an old car's age if it's well maintained. Don't have a personal plate but I can see why a legit one (e.g. your initials) or a good one (s1nks) could work but I'd support automatic fines for anyone who deliberately messes around with the plate, particularly those who use dots or dodgy characters to make it seem something that it's not

I have one with the last three letters being SAL. Just because I like it, nothing to do with the age of the car.

Agree that mis-spacing the numbers/letters is wrong and in fact annoys me, especially when you can't make out what it is trying to say!

DoaM

When I got my previous car (leased company car) in 2012 I was hoping for SH12ZLE

Unfortunately it didn't happen.

Deastons

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

I read somewhere (quite possibly an earlier thread on MSE) that while it's extremely unlikely the police will pull you over just for this, if they should pull you over for a more serious motoring offence there's a good chance the illegal plates will be added to the list of charges.

I was watching a police show once and someone got pulled for their illegally-spaced plate. The driver admitted it and said he had no intention of changing it. The officer argued with him a lot and said if he caught him with it again he'd "report him to the DVLA".

So he admitted wilfully displaying an illegal plate, admitted he had no intention of rectifying it and the officer let him go. So even if they do pull you just for the plate, it seems nothing will actually happen.

AndyMc.....

Deastons wrote: »

I was watching a police show once and someone got pulled for their illegally-spaced plate. The driver admitted it and said he had no intention of changing it. The officer argued with him a lot and said if he caught him with it again he'd "report him to the DVLA".

So he admitted wilfully displaying an illegal plate, admitted he had no intention of rectifying it and the officer let him go. So even if they do pull you just for the plate, it seems nothing will actually happen.

A member on here once reversed into a hole and tried to blame the property owner. Does that mean every member has done it?

Just because that police officer chose not to deal with it doesn't mean every officer will.

Beenie

Essex traffic police regularly pull these drivers aside.

I used to read the reports in one of my jobs years ago.

Made for very entertaining reading.

AndyMc.....

Beenie wrote: »

Essex traffic police regularly pull these drivers aside.

I used to read the reports in one of my jobs years ago.

Made for very entertaining reading.

Go on, do tell.

[Deleted User]

When I see someone with an illegally spaced number plate and/or with extra screw heads to try and spell something I just think KNOB.

If you can't afford the plate that actually spells what you want correctly then don't bother.

Also no legal plate maker will make you dodgy plates like that, you'd have to find a "show plate" maker on ebay or somewhere.

Oh and other than the dodgy plate, you'll have to make sure you are squeaky clean while driving. Don't want to attract attention of the police with your dodgy plate only for them to find something far worse to do you for once they have stopped you.