Police & Numberplates

[dan-hipgrave]

Hey guys, need some advice regarding the possible fine etc that could result from an arsy copper i met today..

I work for the MoD so we have MoD police patrolling our site and today one of them pulled me over. He claimed my front numberplate was ''too small''. It is a small plate, but mainly because the edges have been trimmed off, so it can fit into the GTiR bumper slot nicely where a square plate would have been at some point.

I have looked up on the DVLA website and it says nowt about the size of the plate itself, just the characters, so im assuming thats all that matters? I have been out and measured my letters - according to DVLA they should be 64mm high by 44mm wide, with a 10mm spacing (thankfully imports are allowed smaller letters). Mine are 60mm high by 40mm wide with a 5mm spacing.

Is this enough that i could face a fine/whatever else? The copper was quite arsy with me and in his words ''you have a weeks grace and then im gonna report you''...

Ive printed out the DVLA page, and am gonna shove it in his face next time i see him as he was quite arsy with me and really pissed me off! Just wanna make sure that being a couple of MM off isnt enough to get done for first :lol:

[MAXIBOY]

well it is. if they quote minimum then thats the minimum. any smaller even 1mm is technically illegal.

[dan-hipgrave]

Heres hoping the copper doesnt carry a ruler around then :lol:

[MAXIBOY]

yeah here,s hoping but as he,s already arsy who know,s

[summeh]

I'd change it if I was you... you got a weeks grace so use it.

[dan-hipgrave]

Yeh was thinking of getting a plate to carry round in the glovebox. Just slap it on when this copper comes looking for me (as he no doubt will!)..Trouble is a standard plate wont fit onto the bumper recess properly, will look well out of place :(

[MAXIBOY]

cant you make a plate with the right sized letters and spacing that still fits.

[dan-hipgrave]

Thats basically what this one is, a standard plate with the border trimmed down so its only just bigger than the letters themselves - it just sucks that the letters have been made a couple of mm too small.

The previous owner assured me it was legal, he had gone through MOTs with it on - does that give me any justification for having it?

[FATBOY]

do the red caps have the authority to check anyones cars then???? are they trained to deal with things like illegal number plates???

[dan-hipgrave]

That was what the guys i worked with were saying - they were pretty sure that the copper was out of order pulling me over in the first place lol

[FATBOY]

i think gunner is the one to ask! not sure how much power they have other "civvies". i take it your not in the army???

[dan-hipgrave]

Nope not army! Just a civil servant lol

If he doesnt have the power to dish out fines/whatever for stuff like numberplates that would be a result. I'll keep my smaller plate, as the normal coppers i see out on the road aren't bothered at all...

[Coops]

jap imports are allowed square front plates, how come ur hasnt got one?

[dan-hipgrave]

Guess the previous owner didnt like the sqaure plates they all have so had a small rectangle one made for the space instead..All pics ive seen of GTiRs they have either a square plate or small one like mine. Very few have a 'normal' front plate as it doesnt fit right..

[Coops]

just get a square made up then matey! problems solved and it'll fit, plus imo looks better neway!

[FATBOY]

i thought any car could have a square number plate???? my old mark 2 ford escort rs had one...

[MAXIBOY]

can i run french plates as my maxi,s an import. well sort of it,s french.

[Coops]

if its uk registered and has a uk plate assigned to is, then no! :(

[VIPERONE]

MOD police are sworn in by the magistrates and have full police powers..they are civilian cops. ..working on MOD property.

[BRUN]

you can trim down a new one as long as you leave 10mm around the edge

[white16valver]

11mm ;)

[Dancliovalver]

i have square plates on the front of my pulsar mate

tell him ur gonna squash his car with a tank :wink:

[mike16valver]

i have square plates on the front of my pulsar mate

tell him ur gonna squash his car with a tank :wink:

LMFAO - Great Idea :lol:

don't Video it :D

[dan-hipgrave]

tell him ur gonna squash his car with a tank :wink:

Excellent idea...except for the lack of tanks at our site :lol:

Bit the bullet and bought new a plate today. Square import sized one, looks absolutely crap so its gonna sit in the glovebox. Have got a copy of the regs in the glovebox too.

Am i right in my view that its down to the plod to prove its illegal? If he doesnt have a ruler and know the minimum letter size allowed on an import, theres nowt he can do?? If he gets really arsy i'll just whip the new plate on top of the current one :roll:

[MAXIBOY]

do you get a producer and seven days to rectify with a m.o.t station like other faults. by the way were are the regs written down.

[BristolSam16v]

MOD police are sworn in by the magistrates and have full police powers..they are civilian cops. ..working on MOD property.

Hm aren't most of them armed as well...

[dan-hipgrave]

Yeh ours are.