Number plates

[Hurdy]

My son has inherited his Grandad's number plate and wants to change it from a XXX XX format to a XXXX X.

Does anybody know what the ramifications would be and how do you persuade a company to print it in the new style?

[Big Elf]

I've seen that some motor factors sell 'Show' plates in any style you want.

[andsome]

Strictly speaking these plates are illegal. The spacing should be left as it started. It's up to you.

[Scarecrow Man]

Can you get vanity plates? I think thier more expensive, but you can make them say whatever you want.

[Sir Radfordin]

Some motor factors will supply 'show plates' which can be designed as you wish. However these are not legal for road use (and will be sold with this condition). It would not be a wise move to use them on the road and any car with them fitted would fail the MoT.

[catgate]

Doesn't it make you proud to be British, and live in a country that has allowed serious crime to get to such a level that such things as are being discussed here could land you in jail?

Do you know what a pantomime it is to get a new number plate?

I recently changed my car and went to the local motor factor's for a new number plate for my trailer. I had to return to the motor factors with my V5 (or whatever it is being called this week) and a photo identification, to prove who I am and that I own the vehicle, despite the fact that I had the car there at the motor factors where they would be making the plate. In addition to his having to keep a log and fill in official "returns" the motor factor has to pay the government for the privilege of making them, too.

When I questioned the vehicle security aspect of this whole charade, the man in charge sighed and said,"If you want a dodgy number plate you can always get one. This lot is just another sham".

[Sir Radfordin]

The government can't win can it. You say it is a pantomime to get a new number plate, yet the reason that this system is now in place was to try and cut down on the number of fraudulant plates being produced and to also help police track hit-and-run drivers who vehicles who had been involved in an accident whose identification was not obvious.

If you want a dodgy anything you can 'always get it' but is that to say it is wrong for a government to attempt to limit the amount of "dodgy" plates on the market?

[Hurdy]

He's having a new car on Friday so no MOT for three years - and then he'll just change them for the kosher ones.

such things as are being discussed here could land you in jail?

Surely not? I was hoping someone would say if he was stopped by the po-lice that he would be warned first or else face a fine.

f you want a dodgy number plate you can always get one.

Did he say where? :D

[Sir Radfordin]

It is unlikely that you would end up in jail for having the wrong number plates but you could be fined and given points. There are genuine reasons for number plates being in the format that they are. I would be disapointed to see anyone posting on this site the use of anything else for road use.

[Redhat]

Just a note to watchit guys please :)

[Scarecrow Man]

I'm from Canada, so I don't know what kind of rules you have for this type of thing. Chances are, if you were to go to the place where you get them, and ask what combinations, or variations are legal, and pick from one of those. If it's going to get you arrested, it's really not worth it.

[Damo]

Surely not? I was hoping someone would say if he was stopped by the po-lice that he would be warned first or else face a fine.

That's normally the case, you would be warned that the spacing is illegal then 'told' to change it, failing that, if your stopped again a record would show that you've been stopped before about it and they would probably give you a fixed penalty ticket, in extreme circumstances they can even confiscate the car. Unlikely though.

[Hurdy]

"Tinned milk is a great corrupter..."

Che Guevara

I'm going to evaporate this thread - sensitive souls that you are! :D

[catgate]

The government can't win can it. You say it is a pantomime to get a new number plate, yet the reason that this system is now in place was to try and cut down on the number of fraudulant plates being produced and to also help police track hit-and-run drivers who vehicles who had been involved in an accident whose identification was not obvious.

If you want a dodgy anything you can 'always get it' but is that to say it is wrong for a government to attempt to limit the amount of "dodgy" plates on the market?

Can you remember all the effort that went into taking licenced guns out of the hands of legally registered users, to prevent people getting shot?

Can you remember the knife "amnesties" that preceded it, to prevent people getting stabbed?

Can you remember the last day you did not see a news item about someone in this country being shot or knifed?

Can you remember the last time you heard of any criminal being effectively punished, rather than being 'let out' after serving less than half his lenient 'corrective training'.

Can you remember how crime free it used to be when "punishment" was not a politically incorrect idea?

Our stupid governments, over the last thirty years (and more) have found it easier to bring in new unnecessary laws rather than properly enforcing the older ones, by suitable punishment.

The law says killing or injuring another person is illegal. In which case if I have a gun or a big knife what does it matter. As long as I abide by the law I will harm no one. But, the fools bring in laws that say I can not have anything with which I can break the law.

Similarly it is ilegal to harm anyone in any way with a motor vehicle, so apart from its original purpose (to stop the squirarchy having their horses frightened) to a large extent the 30 mph business is nothing but bad law. A good driver drives at a speed commensurate with the conditions and a driver who damages others, or their property, should be banned for life.

Sexual assault and rape are illegal, so watch out chaps, before long you may well be emasculated "for the good of society", because we can not have you walking about with such dangerous equipment.

Another point which keeps occuring to me is that governments in this country are always riddled with lawyers, of one type or another, and it may be that there is someone, somewhere, who is feeding in "profitable" legislation for their bretheren. It is amazing how much money they make with appeals and defending the indefensible, (and defending reoffenders).

There...got that of my chest!

[Scarecrow Man]

Great post catgate, I have some opinions as well :whistling:

Can you remember all the effort that went into taking licenced guns out of the hands of legally registered users, to prevent people getting shot?

Yep. Waste of money it was.

Can you remember the last time you heard of any criminal being effectively punished, rather than being 'let out' after serving less than half his lenient 'corrective training'.

In Canada you serve 1/4 of your sentence (on perfect behaviour and exceeding expectations) so you get a life sentance (25 years) and you serve 6 and a 1/4, FOR KILLING SOMEONE! that's rediculous.

Our stupid governments, over the last thirty years (and more) have found it easier to bring in new unnecessary laws rather than properly enforcing the older ones, by suitable punishment.

It's just easier this way. If they spent the time working every kink out of every law, we wouldn't have any left. So, they keep adding on top. Only problem is, they are morons and don't know what thier doing, so it looks like a mess and we have to deal with it.

The law says killing or injuring another person is illegal. In which case if I have a gun or a big knife what does it matter. As long as I abide by the law I will harm no one.

Yes it is illegal to kill. Having the ability to kill can be even more dangerous. Since we cannot say "You can have 30 guns, but this guy can't have any, and if he does, he goes to jail" There isn't much of an option.

A good driver drives at a speed commensurate with the conditions and a driver who damages others, or their property, should be banned for life.

I agree, but banned for life? Maybe for repeted offenders, but not on a first offence... let's face it, kids are dumb (but so are a lot of adults).

Sexual assault and rape are illegal, so watch out chaps, before long you may well be emasculated "for the good of society", because we can not have you walking about with such dangerous equipment.

It will happen, but I'd rather see money go into education about it. If everyone knows about it, knows it's wrong, and knows the consequences, wouldn't less people do it?

Another point which keeps occuring to me is that governments in this country are always riddled with lawyers, of one type or another, and it may be that there is someone, somewhere, who is feeding in "profitable" legislation for their bretheren. It is amazing how much money they make with appeals and defending the indefensible, (and defending reoffenders).

Lawyers run the world. Period.

One thing to add as well, Jails or Prisons or whatever you call them are for 'rehabilitation so the person(s) can become a member of society again' but if we segregate them, beat them down, and make them feel like :censored: how are they going to act when they get back out?

[mark2]

regarding number plate suppliers, Our Mot testing station is on the register of no. plate suppliers, for this privilege we had to pay £40 and keep records,V5, passport, driving licence, payment method details etc for 3 yrs. We've had a huge amount of grief from customers when we request these details and they often walk out to the local motor factors, buy the component parts and make the plates themselves. !!! It's not illegal to buy the individual plates and letters :shocking: in this case the law is a farce.

[lester1]

regarding number plate suppliers, Our Mot testing station is on the register of no. plate suppliers, for this privilege we had to pay £40 and keep records,V5, passport, driving licence, payment method details etc for 3 yrs. We've had a huge amount of grief from customers when we request these details and they often walk out to the local motor factors, buy the component parts and make the plates themselves. !!!  It's not illegal to buy the individual plates and letters  :shocking:  in this case the law is a farce.

Been there, last year I changed cars and had to alter the plate on my caravan.

Went to the local parts shop with the vehicle log book to prove the validaty of the number and was told that it was not necessary. I was buying self adhesive numbers and plate so everything was OK.

Now I can see where people can get annoyed at this but the plate was for a Caravan, you do not drill mounting holes in the GRP pannels of a caravan!

I do not for one moment think that the "Boys in Blue" would fail to recognise the plates format if displayed on a car and so not stop the offending vehicle.