Legality of Mainland Plates
Discussion
Over on General Gassing they're always laughing at "Chav" plates and the legality/illegality of them. But I've noticed scores and scores of mainland plates in my home town that have been messed with, and nothing seems to be done.
Does the same law apply here in the province? Any Traffic Police on this forum? I don't really care one way or the other, but the law is the law, and I've never really understood why people ignore it to suit themselves.
Does the same law apply here in the province? Any Traffic Police on this forum? I don't really care one way or the other, but the law is the law, and I've never really understood why people ignore it to suit themselves.
stevieturbo said:
So what exactly is a "mainland" plate ? Given the entire UK has the same laws regarding plates.
Ah. Well you've answered my question.I meant England, Wales and scotland. So the laws do apply here, then. Just wondered. I thought that maybe car owners in Norn Irn felt that it was safe to do it because they couldn't get caught.
FoundOnRoadside said:
Who's going to pull you? When was the last time you saw a traffic cop in N. Ireland? I've been driving here for 15 years, doing over 60k a year for 10 of those, and I've been stopped twice at checkpoints, and pulled over once.
Good point. It's a long time since I even saw a hand-held speed camera. Where are they all?I suppose that's the cutbacks for you. Nice to know we're being watched over, safe and sound.
nicanary said:
Good point. It's a long time since I even saw a hand-held speed camera. Where are they all?
M2 - B95 roundabout Antrim every other day.Re plates the letter definitions and spacing regs are exactly the same so any messing with the grouping of letters and readability of the plate carries the same penalties. Probably just not high on their priority list.
JuniorD said:
I've heard of traffic police pulling and warning cruisers for having silly fonts. Plus, isn't this a matter which is dealt with at MOT?
One thing I have noticed lately are plates with letters and numerals that are terribly faded, almost totally dissolved away In some cases.
The MOT problem is easily solved - they just swap them on the day, like the black tinted rear lenses. The spares are kept just for that.One thing I have noticed lately are plates with letters and numerals that are terribly faded, almost totally dissolved away In some cases.
Theoretically, since the Good Friday Agreement, the plod should have less to do with the naughty boys brigade, and more time for harassing the public (just a joke,officer). So watch out for fines for parking with two wheels on the pavement - it's £70 statutory, unless you've done it to ease access on a narrow road.They're cracking down on this in England.
nicanary said:
Good point. It's a long time since I even saw a hand-held speed camera. Where are they all?
I suppose that's the cutbacks for you. Nice to know we're being watched over, safe and sound.
Sitting under the bridge on the M2 out of Belfast northbound due to roadworks. 50mph at the minI suppose that's the cutbacks for you. Nice to know we're being watched over, safe and sound.
FoundOnRoadside said:
Who's going to pull you? When was the last time you saw a traffic cop in N. Ireland? I've been driving here for 15 years, doing over 60k a year for 10 of those, and I've been stopped twice at checkpoints, and pulled over once.
You must drive with your eyes shut.I do average a lot more miles per year than you, and I seem them on the road every single day, usually several times a day.
I havent been stopped very often, but I see cars pulled over all the time, and I see the cops on the road all the time. And more recently, more speed traps operated by the cops ( speed camera vans are civvy operated here now )
As for plates
nicanary said:
I thought that maybe car owners in Norn Irn felt that it was safe to do it because they couldn't get caught.
Safe to do what exactly ?nicanary said:
Safe to display illegal plates.
It's commonplace here and on the mainland. Most are perfectly legible, although there are a few that are ridiculous.But the law on plates is also ridiculous. Ive even seen cops ticket parked cars with illegal plates here !! The really have that little to do on their patrols.
We must have the lowest crime levels in the planet when cops are deployed to tackle such crimes.
Unfortunately, it's easy pickings.
(I wasn't having a go at those that have them, and certainly wouldn't tout, just curious. Because NI had its own DVLA in Coleraine, I had wondered whether the Road Traffic rules were different here in respect of the plates re-registered from England, wales and Scotland. Personally, I don't understand why someone does it when they know it's illegal - each to their own).
(I wasn't having a go at those that have them, and certainly wouldn't tout, just curious. Because NI had its own DVLA in Coleraine, I had wondered whether the Road Traffic rules were different here in respect of the plates re-registered from England, wales and Scotland. Personally, I don't understand why someone does it when they know it's illegal - each to their own).
nicanary said:
Unfortunately, it's easy pickings.
(I wasn't having a go at those that have them, and certainly wouldn't tout, just curious. Because NI had its own DVLA in Coleraine, I had wondered whether the Road Traffic rules were different here in respect of the plates re-registered from England, wales and Scotland. Personally, I don't understand why someone does it when they know it's illegal - each to their own).
So you never do anything illegal ? Not all laws make sense or have any good reasoning behind them.(I wasn't having a go at those that have them, and certainly wouldn't tout, just curious. Because NI had its own DVLA in Coleraine, I had wondered whether the Road Traffic rules were different here in respect of the plates re-registered from England, wales and Scotland. Personally, I don't understand why someone does it when they know it's illegal - each to their own).
Many motoring related laws or "crimes" are there simply to allow the government to fine you with ease, with no option to fight it without giving them even more money.
Normally this is called extortion, or some sort of fraud racket....but the government get away with it
stevieturbo said:
So you never do anything illegal ? Not all laws make sense or have any good reasoning behind them.
Many motoring related laws or "crimes" are there simply to allow the government to fine you with ease, with no option to fight it without giving them even more money.
Normally this is called extortion, or some sort of fraud racket....but the government get away with it
Agreed. We're a cash cow. No allowance for drivers using common-sense. I have been known to do a tad over the NSL when it was perfectly safe to do so - you can't have an accident with something that's not there.Many motoring related laws or "crimes" are there simply to allow the government to fine you with ease, with no option to fight it without giving them even more money.
Normally this is called extortion, or some sort of fraud racket....but the government get away with it
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