Lexx Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Heading back from a relaxed lunch with my g/f this afternoon, and whilst on a dual carriageway heading back into hartlepool I noticed the front grill of a black Skoda Octavia VRs in my rear mirrors. Drove the next 4-5 mile at the speed limit whilst he followed me rather closely. Just as we entered Hartlepool, the flashy lights came on, and it was time for me to pull over. said he'd pulled me as I was a little bit rapid off the rondabout, and also becasue of my number plate. He didnt doa nything for the speeding, other than telling me to go easy on the right foot. But Ive been given a fixed £30 fine, and told to get my front plate changed ASAP (its an import sized plate). I was a little narked, but tbh he was a decent enough copper, and didnt make an issue outta anything (unlike that tosser a month ago who practicaly gave me an ASBO) So Im gunna start a sweepstake on when I shall next be pulled over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Hmmmm, you have to wonder sometimes if they all have a chat and pic on certain people. At least he was decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgomez1978 Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 my car is an import so ive got the square plate on the front is this legal then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 Yep, yours is fine. Mine would have been fine if my car was an import, even though its slightly smaller than UK standard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesterfield Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 As long as you are displaying the legal font with characters 79mm high, then there is absolutely no legal reason why you cannot have an import style front plate ona UK car. The Import front plates can have 64mm size letters if there is a functional reason for this (Import sized space in bumpers). If your plate is import style with the standard sized font, then I think you have been given this ticket unfairly. As the rules are so wooly on number plates, its hardly surprising that the coppers get it wrong too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Just an excuse to post a rather nice pic ....... with the disputed plate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Im sorry, but i hate traffic cops that have to earn money for the government like this. Do you think they're embarassed when dishing out these fixed penalties? I mean fair enough if you were speeding and he decided to stop you, but he must have had a walk round your car just itching to get you for something, and decided on the plate. Jerk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Apparently Halfords are doing legal plates that have min 11mm boarder with correct size font and spacing but works better with private plates as there are smaller than normal. Is that what you have, if so tell them rozza`s to poke it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I hate getting pulled but that plates not exactly 'standard' is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunsetZed Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I agree with Sarnie but if he was following you then he can't have pulled you for that plate unless you'd passed him earlier and he saw it then?! Surely he can't have seen it from behind you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I'm sure the main reason they are picking on plates that are not the 'norm' is to make sure their mobile laser cash machines continue to earn their keep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunsetZed Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I'm sure the main reason they are picking on plates that are not the 'norm' is to make sure their mobile laser cash machines continue to earn their keep Probably true but as Marzman said most of them don't want to be doing that, it's not what they joined up for but it keeps Mr Brown's economy 'barely' ticking over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuck Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 That sucks Lexx, lets hope the coppers down in Boro are a bit more lenient. Saying that he did sound like a decent one, for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted December 11, 2008 Author Share Posted December 11, 2008 That sucks Lexx, lets hope the coppers down in Boro are a bit more lenient. Saying that he did sound like a decent one, for a change. It was a boro copper! The font is slightly smaller than standard. He even measured it. Think I'll investigate this Halfrauds plate that steve_b mentioned. Strange thing is, he spent 5 mins issueing the ticket, and 15 chatting about the car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 I think the plate looks ok. I got given the DVLA rules on plates from the coppers when I got pulled for VERY small front plate. As long as the letter style, size, spacing and border are legal then that's fine as far as I read. I'd look into it if I were you. In fact - here you go buddie. http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v796.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M350ZB Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 Dont get me started on plates, on the way up to ESR to get my car done i got pulled by yorkshire police and couldnt belive it, i got threatened though with 3 points as well, . Funny thing is had that exact plate on a year and a half allmst, never been pulled for it till then. Now i have a import stlye plate on the rear and a smaller cut down plate on the front , bring it on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted December 11, 2008 Author Share Posted December 11, 2008 Cheers for that info Stew. The copper actually gave me the DVLA sheet that goes on about sizes and spacing etc. The height of mine are slightly below the 79mm legal. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 Fair cop then Lexx. It looked ok , not much smaller. I ordered a cut down plate (like yours) but my letters and spacing is totally legal. I took a copy of the sheet as I thought it'sd be handy to keep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted December 11, 2008 Author Share Posted December 11, 2008 Think thats gunna be my plan Stew. I had a smaller plate than that one on my RX8 for 3 years and nothing was ever said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H5 Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 I ordered a cut down plate for the front of mine and the day I went to fit it they set up a roadside stop n check at the top of my road. I took it as a sign!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M350ZB Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 I ordered a cut down plate for the front of mine and the day I went to fit it they set up a roadside stop n check at the top of my road. I took it as a sign!! , notice now though its alot harder to get private/show plates........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 at last the rozzers finally took notice after my phone call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 You're actually better off with no plate stuck on at all and using the excuse of "It must've fallen off officer", as the penalties are much less severe. Tbh, if you know you've got an illegal plate then you can hardly complain when you get pulled up on it. I've always viewed number plates as something extraordinarily ugly that blight the front and rear of every car, but since everyone has to have them there's no point in complaining or trying to get round it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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