There was some discussion recently about the availability of stick-on DIY number plates. I went to my local accessory shop and sure enough they were available (I thought they had been withdrawn). But stuck to the back of the panel was the following message:
"This reflective panel is sold on the condition that it should only be used for signage purposes. Under no circumstances should it be used in connection with vehicle registration marks. Fitting this product to a vehicle, trailer or caravan may result in prosecution."
So what exactly is the legal position of these number plates?
"Richard Brookman" wrote in news:bt906f$4i24o$ snipped-for-privacy@ID-108243.news.uni-berlin.de:
Probably the manufacturer covering himself. I suppose it could be construed as "encitement to break the law" if they are sold as DIY registration plates but even that sounds a bit tenuous.
If you use them and come into conflict with the law, seems to me it would be very difficult to prove you were using them illegally if on your own vehicle with the correct number, properly registered.
Assuming, of course, that they comply with the specification laid down by law for a legal number plate!
It is for the law to prove your guilt, not for you to prove your innocence. I had a set of number plates made up not so long ago and offered to produce my registration documents. The shop said that wasn't necessary as the law, so far, applied to England and Wales only and not Scotland (where I reside). But the law could have changed since then.
I got one and the place made me sign some kind of disclaimer saying I was aware they weren't legal to use. Still went straight home and stuck it on a trailer board though...
They're certainly not legal to make plates out of, but I think it might be the case that it's just for new plates and that (in theory) existing ones are legal. Maybe. I am guessing here... The law did I think though come in at the same time as the law about needing 10 forms of ID to get a number plate made up, so it sort of makes sense.
So, if I'm talking something vaguely true (which is unlikely), then if you get stopped you just say "I've had that for years officer".
They are not legal to sell for use as number plates, there is nothing however to stop any shop selling reflective yellow or white material that just happens to be in the shape of a number plate, together with self adhesive letters which happen to be number plate sized.
It would not be an MOT failure to have one fitted as a numberplate however, and I dont think it is illegal to use them as number plates, and they meet all the legal requirements on legibility, reflectivity etc.
AFAIK, they new laws only apply to the supply of number plates, rather than the use of them.
I hope I can shed some light on this as I use to work in the trade but the new rules came into effect as I left but from the inside the rules seem to be :-
In theory all number plate manufactorers have to have there post code and I think an id no etched into the acrylic so that the plate can be traced back to its origin when you go into get a new no plate made up you have to produce proof of who you are and also proof of the vehicle the number plate is for ie drivers licence and log book and the details much match.
Its now as far as I am aware no longer legal to sell number plate making materials as it was found to be the case that people were sticking them over there orginal plate doing a drive off robbery etc etc getting round the corner and removing it I saw a police stop type program recently were they were questioning some builders and when they looked at the plates they had stuck a different number on top and the actual plates were different front and back thats just one eg.
A few places are still selling the letters and numbers as these can be used for many things I think its just the backing that there getting touchy over becouse if they can prove that a plate was made and the rules had not been followed then the whole company looses its licence to produce number plates so I can understand why some places are a bit ott on disclamiers and such like.
If anyone would like me to get an exact word of mouth from a supplie I will have a word with a few contacts I still have in the trade.
They are OK to use provided the vehicle is older than the date when the law became law. ie if your Landrover, or towing vehicle, is newer than Jan '03 then it is illegal to use home-made number plates. If the towing vehicle is older than Jan '03 when the law was introduced, who can prove that the plates weren't made up by you before this time ?
I made five plates myself recently ... Caravan, Camping trailer, Motorbike Trailer, Trailer Board and A N Other for whenever one drops off .. ;)
If you have plates made up for you then they must be 'proper' plastic plates, that don't have stick-on numbers, and you must show various documents before they can be made .. ;)
As a follow on to the above; how do trailer rental companies go about making up number plates when you rent a trailer? Are they in some way excempt from the new law?
We hired a trailer last year when we went to Devon at Easter, although we took the number plate off the caravan, we never used it as it was written on in pen and a plastic cover screwed on over it.
Really? I don't think you've been paying attention recently. The DVLA don't work on that premis, you wait untill the new fines start for unregistered vehicles. It would appear that the police don't either, when it comes to traffic offences, it's up to you to prove you weren't there, not the other way round. Ditto Congestion charges, parking fines etc etc etc...
When I last rented a trailer a few months ago, the rental company used a blank acrylic number plate to which they stuck my reg on with the tempory type of sticky digits. I asked about how legal this was, they said that the plate would only be illegal if they were to sell it to someone, not the case here. I asked if I could keep the plate after and they refused, instead offering to make a correct one. They keep the blank ones for reuse by removing the old sticky digits.
On or around Sun, 4 Jan 2004 12:14:04 -0000, "Richard Brookman" enlightened us thusly:
IIRC... new rules about reg plates are that they have to be made by a registered entity who put on them their postcode. The entity or its agent has to see the vehicle documentation and proof of ID before selling you the plate.
Furthermore, reg plates made after the regulations came into force (September 2001 I believe) have to be made using the correct letters (standard font) and the correct spacing (though I've seen some that don't - there must be bootleg silly-plate makers out there).
Provided you conform to the spacing etc., it's highly unlikely that anyone will notice. I dare say you could make a good argument that you don't need to see ID for yourself, and I further assume that provided the vehicle is indeed registered in your name, you could only be done for making a number plate without being an official number plate maker
I don't know what's involved in becoming a official number plate maker.
Of course, if it's on a vehicle older than September 2001, you just swear that it's been on there since before 2001, and they have to prove otherwise. Old installations, provided the number plate meets legibility requirements, are AFAIK OK.
Refusing to pay the fine results in a summons to a civil court for not paying the fine *not* in any court for committing the original misdemeanour. By this time the fine has risen to three times its original amount. As it's a civil court the case is judged on balance of probabilities and since the fine has not been paid there is no defence in law anyway. So either you pay or the bailiffs come round. Either way the traffic warden or whoever never needs to appear in court and prove the case against you. Oh and the civil court is likely to be a long way from where the original alleged offence took place. TFL for example uses a court in Northampton.
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