...have you guys ever been pulled for it? I've seen loads of scoobs on here with the smaller front plates and illegally spaced letters.

I have a private plate that has no spacing and reads 'Scoob'.
I also have a smaller number plate at the front. It's standard font, but the plate itself is just trimmed down.

Anyhows, I got pulled for it 2.5 years ago and fined £30. Fair enough.

Been driving with it on since and had no problems... until today.
The officer in question informed me that he was going to issue me with a fine of £60 (wow it's doubled). He said he is only doing me for the front plates (it being too small) and will let me off the hook for the rear numberplate (it being not spaced properly).

So he made it sound like he was doing me a favour by saying he was only going to fine me £60 instead of £120... WTF???!!
So basically, he's saying he could issue me a ticket for an illegal plate, twice. Is this possible at all?

Think I'm just going to go back to standard and keep it like that, not worth the hassle imo.

 

might as well go back to standard plate as if you are a repeat offender, they can take your plate off you.

 

I had a small plate on the fron of my old gt4 and never had anyproblems with it.

 

If the font was correct then he should have given you 28 days to correct it.

 

I drove around for 2 years with no plate on the front and never got pulled once only petrol station people noticed

 

I think it all depends on the copper to be honest. personally I would stick with legal ones to save the hassle. get euro looking ones though.

 

Those nasty fascist police going round enforcing the law like that!

Your plate is illegal. Put the right plates on and guess what? No more fines!!! How hard can it be?

 

I agree totally depends on the cop in question. Its the same for tinted windows. But we don't usually get a lot of problems where we are for that the police are too lazy to deal with the paperwork

 

I think jdm cars are allowed smaller number plates? Is yours a jdm or uk?

 

Scogsy WRX off here got a £60 fine and 3 points last year for smaller plate on a JDM import, he got pulled twice in the same month... so not sure if thats true mate

 

Not quite true, if the car was imported before 1999 it is, but its not a smaller plate your allowed, its a square plate and it still requires the correct size letters/numbers with the correct spacing.

Tony

 

I thought number plate offences were non-endorsable. So fine only. Not points???

 

I just keep my number plate in the window and if i get pulled up i will use the excuse that it came loose and that i will re-fit it

 

Its all about being sensible, yes anything other than the the correct font, spacing and size may get you stopped but if you don't take the pi$$ then the chances of getting hassle will be minimised.

Don't go for a 3/4 size plate, with miss spaced letters in a dodgy font, and dubious mounting screws, but you could go for a 3/4 size plate with correct spacing in as larger standard font that is possible.

 

I use a slightly smaller stick on plate on my bonnet. Not had any probs yet.

 

I ran a plate 70% the size of normal for 2 years and the only person that had an issue was the MOT tester. It was also at a dubious angle as you will see below. All font was correctly spaced though

 

We'll lets see - your front plate is illegal, and your rear plate was illegal for a different reason.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm £60 * 2 = £120
But he was very generous and you got 50% off

How dare he fine you for breaking the law - imagine that

 

So can you get points then?

 

No points, the fine is £30 per plate IIRC, i've had 3 fines over the last 3 years which i expected and budgeted for, altough i have been thinking about increasing the size of the font lately, must be growing older and wiser

 

Fine went up last nov according to the gov website.

Tony

 

You can now get 3 points for an illegal plate actually.

 

Also, there was talk that stick on plates (as shown on your bumper) even if they are the correct size will become illegal if they havent already. Is a right pain!

Suggest you keep a standard plate in the window too. Thats what I do when I use the small show plate.

 

Stick on plates illegal, dam was planning on putting one of them on my 78 Midget, don't spose you know if there was a year that effective from, it will effect a lot of classic owners, not scoob classic owners though!

 

No idea mate, not sure myself what year. Was planning same on my classic beetle and classic mini but was warned this was the case recently.

 

Why do you think you get points now?

I'm not saying you don't, but it would be good to read something factual

 

Any online links confirming this mate?

 

http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/plates.htm
no mention of points in this

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_178975

 

Good question. I read somewhere that of the 1st Nov 2008 it was going to be 3 points for number plate not conforming. Was also told my a police officer when I was pulled over that if I didn’t get my plates changed that could be 3 points on the second warning.

But having said that I have just done some online searching and there is really nothing written to back this up. So it really depends on how much of an **** the police officer is on the day I suppose! They might be able to get you under an MS60 code with 3 points, but would have to have really annoyed them!

Got 3 points last night actually, for moving over a white line to see if the road was clear to overtake. Shagged old 4x4 in front doing 40 on a 60 country road and they did me £60 and 3 points for crossing line to have a look along with a complimentary bad breath check. Top ****! Well pleased!

 

You can have a small plate on an import, be it square or not, ONLY if the car has insufficent room for a full sized plate and as long as the correct size (imports can use 64mm instead of 79mm) and font is used

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVLA

All number plates must meet standard size for lettering and style (with the exception of imported cars that were not designed for UK plates and have a functional reason for not using standard size plates). Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if: The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Type Approval AND the vehicle’s construction/design cannot accommodate standard size number plates

The police use the 'ANPR can't read it' argument quite often. It manages to read bike plates ok though!

Op, I run a front number plate, legally spaced (5 digit) with 64mm bike sized letters, cut down slightly to make it roughly 13"x3½". I've had it on for 4½ years with no hassle (touch wood) and flew through MOTs too!!

Plates with standard sized lettering, (79mm) correct font and spacing can be legally cut down providing there is an 11mm gap between the edge of the letter and the edge of the plate itself!