Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Numerplates - UK Riders

Has anyone had any grief from plod for using a smaller than allowed plate? UK regs are very specific in what's allowed (see http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm#motorcycles)
I've just fitted a smaller plate (7" x 5.5"), and it looks much neater, but I don't want to risk a £1000 fine!

That should of course say "Numberplates". It's Friday night, and the beer is kicking in!

Eh? How's that work? You can make your own number plates in the UK or something? Funky... I might suggest that to the AU gov't... I could handle having a chrome numberplate *grin*

Matt

Sorry, no chrome:-( But you can get any size or style you want as long as it's for "off road" or "show" use:-)

http://www.makemyplate.com/plate_selection.html

Hi,

The Police are comming down increasingly heavily on number plate iregularities in the UK. This is being fueled by the introduction of automatic number plate recognition systems. If they can't read your plate they can't link a number to a database to establish if the bike (or other vehicle) is insured or stolen or whatever.

At the moment the offence carries a fine between £60 and £1,000 but it does not carry endorsement points. So you can't lose your licence because of it.

The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940022_en_1.htm section 42 says:

<quote>42.—(1) If a registration mark is not fixed on a vehicle as required by virtue of section 23, the relevant person is guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) In subsection (1)"the relevant person" means the person driving the vehicle or, where it is not being driven, the person keeping it.</quote>

I believe that the most common event which may result in you being prosecuted for a number plate irregularity is if you are stopped for speeding. I don't think that the authorities are currently set up to force you to confess by post for a number plate offence in the way that they are with speed cameras.

Full rules regarding layout of number plates is here http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2001/20010561.htm

Best wishes

Sid

something i have always wondered, does that #tag on the front fender distort the handeling of the bike at all? maybe at high speeds?? is there anything diff. in the way the bike handles at in any way??

Newt

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something i have always wondered, does that #tag on the front fender distort the handeling of the bike at all? maybe at high speeds

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Don't know for sure when the law was changed but modern bikes don't need to have a tag on the front any longer. Urban legend has it that they were acting as blades and causing serious injury to people in accidents.They are only kept on classic bikes to retain the original look.

Nobby

put a smaller number plate on mine,no's slightly smaller but can still be read from a fair distance. I think you'll find it's the crutch rockets with the tiny plates on that the police are targeting, had mine on over a year, and had loads of police on my tail, with no problems, just make sure to put original back on for MOT.

Andy