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

[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

[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