Black/silver number plates on a non-age related plate. . .

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:33 pm

I think I already know the answer to this one but just in case. . .

My Bongo is black over silver & looks great. It also has an Irish plate - hence no year giveaway.

After a bottle of wine the other night I splashed out on a pair of sexy black/silver plates on the interweb because that really will set it off nicely.

I realise that these are only strictly legal on pre '72 cars but is there a grey area when applied to non age related plates or am I just asking for trouble??

Regards,

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:37 pm

You just don't want to draw attention to yourself and give Mr Nice Policeman an excuse to pull you over for a random check, now do you?

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:43 pm

I would say you're asking for trouble, unless you enjoy spot checks of course

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:44 pm

They are illegal and you are asking for trouble.

and unless they warned you they were only for "show" use the people who sold you them have broken the law as well.

Post by **Bob** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:01 pm

The others are right, there is no 'Grey Area' these plates will be illegal on your Bongo.

Regarding 'Show Only' even putting them on your vehicle on a campsite could cause a problem as the Road Traffic Act now applies to all places to which the public has access.

I think this is partly to catch yooves on mini motos and the like, belting round parks and cycle tracks, but like many laws it is a catch all sledge hammer.

You would be really unfortunate to get a ticket on private land, but be aware it could happen.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:32 pm

I have heard that certain forces have twigged that illegal plates often point to lots of other infractions that can mean "Ker-Ching" on the till as well.

For instance a copper I know saw a very expensive 4x4 with plates that did not carry the BS number, makers name and postcode and something just pricked his curiosity. The woman driving the 4x4 (an X5 I think) ended up losing it, as it was stolen and re-regged with the number of a write off that hadn't been properly "written off".

Illegal plates are rapidly becoming the motoring equivalent of driving around with a neon sign on the roof saying "Stop Me".

jimsmimm · Post by **jimsmimm** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:39 pm

I think this is partly to catch yooves on mini motos and the like, belting round parks and cycle tracks, but like many laws it is a catch all sledge hammer............. they actually sneeked it in long before mini motos became a nuisance....it was aimed at dealing with raves on private land.... I thinks its now £30 and 3 points for an illegal plate... after forking out £90 for the small plate on my bike I finally got sick of it and fitted a legal plate

Post by **Bob** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:43 pm

I thinks its now £30 and 3 points for an illegal plate... after forking out £90 for the small plate on my bike I finally got sick of it and fitted a legal plate

Point well made, why bother doing it?

jimsmimm · Post by **jimsmimm** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:13 pm

Up to being fined 3 times in as many months, I had been running small plates on all my bikes since owning a vespa in my teens.... on the third occation I argued with mr plod that the plates were for looks only and were not intented to evade cameras (as they dont anyway unless stupidly small) ...he informed my that they had noticed a large amount of motorcycles involved in accidents had small plates..... well considering somewhere beteen 30-40% bikes were carring small plates before the purge ,he'd have been as well telling me they'd noticed a large amount of bikes involved in accidents had two wheels....

rob and karen · Post by **rob and karen** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:15 pm

also for an mot you now have to have a kite mark and a seriel no on the plate according to the tester today or else it will fail

rob