Jacko

Ok mate, so basically, say I get pulled tomorrow again as they having this "clampdown" and I've not yet had chance to change the plates...... then they would do a check as per standard procedures and it would show up that I'd just been given a £30 fine........ Guess it would just depend on copper as to whether I got off, or another one (and obviously dependant on time since fine). I'm just wondering whether to change plates or not I guess...... Anyone that has seen them will know that they not exactly offensive! No misspelling or misspacing...... its purely that the size is ever so slightly below the legal requirement. But I guess thats my fault! (I know I don't have a legal leg to stand on)....

Yeah've thought of all the same things as well...... but Chris those sort of reasoned arguments don't wash do they when you having them with a copper. To be fair he was a nice enough guy, and obviously a car fan as tested the 350z (allegedly) the week before, but if I was in his position and pulled me, then I'd have given a warning. No one would have known and he'd have probably got me to change them more over by that means that £30!! One thing that I'm thinking about, and wondering whether Ming will have the answer is that now that I've been tugged for it and given this Offence Code 400: "Which is letters not conforming to standard" (they were excepted as being legible)..... whether if I don't replace the plates or get a another pull in the mean time as to whether thats on record and next time I get points etc....or would they just do the same thing etc? Or does it not go on record and then if I did get pulled, would they not know about yesterday?? Anyone know? Is Ming around?

This bollox on cars producing "all the CO2 is crap" anyway..... Was watching that Saving planet earth last week, and even "god of all conservation" Mr Attenborough stated "that the burning of the worlds rainforests through clearance at the moment causes a 5th of the worlds CO2!!" So stop friggin burning rain forests and get off the cars back! Also, another one..... that big bloody chimney at Drax powerstation over Yorkshire way..... that one chimney alone pollutes the atmosphere with smoke from 30,000 tonnes of coal a day. That equates to as much Carbon Dioxide as more than a quarter of all the cars in Britain (7.5 million vehicles)!! And another quote, Drax is the single largest industrial source of CO2 in Western Europe! But its all the cars fault

Nixy, (back on topic now after Jay's technical support thread hijack ) no the car on 5th gear was black! The one at silverstone was blue but looked black! Geddit!

What a poo end to a rubbish day! I'm trying to stay chilled about this as no big loss, just annoying and a little warning for some of you lot...... Right, I'll try to keep it brief as I can.... Got into our Knowsley office early this morning about 7:30 to miss the traffic in as gotta travel M60/M62/M57. Had a really crap day where I just couldn't get a lot done and couldn't wait for the day to end. Anyway, I normally leave there about 4-4:30 to miss traffic back (well most of it) bearing in mind gotta get back to north manchester.......but as this day was crap, I thought sod it going to leave a little early so I left at 3:30 with a view to carrying on work when I got home... I'm going back home on M62 about 15 mins later, when hear about the M60 is shut due to a massive accident that closed some junctions clockwise (the way I go). So I thought, ok once I get to M60 junction, I'll carry on M602 in towards Manchester as I have a route I can do to miss out the M60. So lots of traffic on M62 all way past M60 turning (which was a major car park) and lots going into M/C as a lot of people must be taking different route. Anyway, the way that my back way route goes was really busy, so I thought ok will head towards M/C and go past MEN Arena/strangeways...... So making slow progress up through Cheetham hill when see lots of flourescent jackets on side of road. Assumed they were checkin for tax discs/dodgy cars as pulling some over but I slowly creep through...... Carry on my route which involves taking a right then a left and I turn left at a sort of T junction. See a police van going the opposite way around this bend and then he hits some traffic...... anyway I'm still crawling along when I can see what I thought was another van in traffic way back and getting past cars now and again. He must have u turned and long story short ends up behind me by flashing the car behind (that pulls over) and he's up my backside. Next min, the lights are on so I pull over....... So long story short, I've got pulled as my numberplates are "ever so slightly" smaller than legal size. They aren't offensive script or anything, just that they a little smaller. In his words "You might think this is a bit harsh etc" but he goes onto explain why....... Sods law i've got a traffic cop in a van, (he got the short straw he said), so he knows what he's on about. Anyway he was a good bloke, and we had a good chat about stuff and car etc, and obviously I was trying to get away with just a warning, but no such luck. They are under strict instructions to give fines to people at the moment, no warnings..... this is all being instructed because of.... And this is the important part, due to the rise in terrorism and the important parts that ANPR (Automatic number plate recognition) is playing across the country in tracking suspicious cars etc, they are on a major look out for any plate that can't be read by the system. All GMP cars and vans now have it installed. The guy had just been travelling the other way, when he noticed my car (as he'd took one out for a test drive last weekend) and must have either thought the plate was "different" or just wanted to make sure all was well and not nicked etc. So he'd gotten back behind me and the system couldn't read my plate...... the fact that I was stuck in a massive line of traffic going through Broughton made it very easy! So basically, he was telling me that at the moment there is a massive push with ANPR more than normal (due to terrorism). They are having a massive clampdown on non standard plates (and this won't just be GMP). Anything that the system flags as unreadable has to be dealt with on order of their C.I. They don't do rectification notices and warnings. He said they not allowed to as its a DVLA issue. They give fines initially but no points..... when they out checking they have lots of patrols just driving around mopping up as well. So a warning to anyone that has a plate not strictly legal through size, script or spacing. If the system can't read you when they checking somewhere, there is a good chance that you'll get a tug. I also noticed they were on the M62 this morning on bridges, with Traffic cops on slip roads, probably to mop up people like me! So for finding all this for you lot has just cost me £30, but at least no points and now I need to get my plates changed again! And if I hadn't left early, took two detours, been stuck in traffic or worked from home today then I wouldn't have got pulled (well today at least!) and would have had an extra £30 drinking money! Well at least it only took me 2 hours to do a 35 mile (normally 45 mins) home journey. If I'd have left later then I probably would be getting home about now

Lets try and keep it on topic seeing as its a for sale or a car please? Thread tidied!

Sarnie, you can see them from Mars, you don't need a decent picture for them! Going to have to be respray soon! And then paintshield? Yep, about 4 minutes after its dry!

But we made £15,000,000 of them last year! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6263596.stm

Rich, as I said earlier in the thread and to you on the phone, I can't make as will be in LA Can you please take me off the list..... Sorry mate, would love to be there....... will probably be nicked by the side of the road instead!

Nixy, it was the new Midnight blue that I saw it on at Silverstone, will upload a pic at some point but seeing as the new blue, is nearly the new black then ti doesn't make that much difference...... still think the new grey seats are just average

Sarnie, you can see them from Mars, you don't need a decent picture for them! Going to have to be respray soon!

No Rob, its called Frost grey. Its like an greyish off while really...... Saw it up close at Silverstone. I'm not really a fan...... and imagine what will be like after 3 years?

Thats an old un mate from when I first put em on...... All the ones in that album I took at the same time

Actually I don't think they are that great..... seen nicer similar styles

I want one please "Tony Hart".....

+5,897,642

Tell you what, the 07 sounded nice with the standard exhaust on there...... really creamy as she put it!

Yeah does seem a bit strange Dan..... Not that I care, its a bloody beemer!

Rich, I'd say that the difference is that when people say they are coming from a long way away, then they typically are. It also takes more planning for them and they have normally taken than into account as well. The fact that its a big meet, (rather than a once a month one that is easy for local people not to turn up to) means that I bet you will have a good turn out....... AND most of the people on the list are people that have always delivered on their promises in past meets. Don't let the local one dishearten you too much...... I'm sure you'll have a good turn out of this one. You will always have the odd one or two that have an issue or pull out at last min, but the majority will be there I'm sure.....! Just needs people to let you know if they can't make it for any reason, rather than just pulling out mate Keep the faith Rich!

As if by magic, a shopkeeper appeared! Bling! (thats Mr Benn for any of you young whippersnappers who don't know what the hell I'm talking about, or in fact you Adam as you won't have seen it..... I think )

Sure some of our more sensible members will be along later..... Maybe Chris or Digsy might have a view......

Who said that?

[off topic] Is the V+ box thing any good? My new house has cable already installed by the previous owner and its a toss up between V+ and Sky+ for both TV and BB. I've heard mixed reviews of V+, mostly bad. Just want to know whether its worth paying BT to come and reconnect the landline or just stick with Virgin. [/off topic] Cant wait to see what they say, agree with the others about VBH, G forces have not been forgiving to her Remember Chris that you can't get Sky 1 now through Virgin...... they stopped it didn't they due to price hikes from Sky trying to force them out. So depends on what you want to watch I suppose?

Yes, but you ain't buying one for that are you...... you want something you can drive around without worry. Stop being so vain, you'll have your "other" car for that!

Is his shop still there? You could "allegedly" tell him that if he doesn't get the money back to you then you'll "allegedly" burn down said shop, or "allegedly" break his legs? Not sure, but I did a WHOIS on his website, and got a residential address...but directory enquiries (the online one anyway) doesn't have his number. Not looking into the terrorising/bullying route (he's a blind old man), but I just want him to know that I'm serious. Cheers, Tin Fair enough. Bit harder to threaten someone who is blind and old...... You could try company house couldn't you to get his address anyway?? If the business is registered to there etc? Dunno for sure, I'm not an expert in this..... And then at least you could have a face to face conversation without him dodging you......