Doppelgangers

Author
Discussion

PetrolTed

Original Poster:

34,443 posts

308 months

Wednesday 25th April 2001
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Read a thread somewhere else about someone seeing a car the same as theirs with an identical number plate. So let's say someone with an identical colour/spec car to yours has the nerve to copy your plates and sail through a few Gatsos. How the hell can the police tell it's not you. Surely the concept brings into question the whole issue of identifying offenders just from their cars? Isn't it an invalid assumption on the part of the law that your car is unique?

john robson

370 posts

282 months

Wednesday 25th April 2001
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It has happened a few times, we get you to bring your car in of we go out to it and examine it very closely against the photo,'twinned'cars ie stolens with your reg no rarely are 100% identical, and we can usually spot a few differences,There are a few other things though, wouldn't like to give too much away though.

Roy C

4,191 posts

289 months

Wednesday 25th April 2001
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A relative of mine was nearly prosecuted for a "hit & run" offence, until the police/DVLA realised that the car involved was a "ringer" - same model, same colour with fake plates.

dubbs

1,590 posts

289 months

Thursday 26th April 2001
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Just thought about this and "if" you were a naughty person you may do something like this (but I don't condone it it anyway as I am sure it is illegal) 1. Have 2 numberplates ready, one with a Euro blue border and one without, when the time comes swap them. 2. Put a sticker of some sorts in the rear window, when the time comes take it off 3. watch out for scratches or other distinguishing body marks on the rear of the car that individualise your car from anyone elses 4. Is that a smelly air freshner hanging off your rear view mirror? If so it would make you stand out wouldn't it? 5. Chrome exhaust trim? Go faster stripe? Remove any invidual add ons and get a good valeter to come and make sure any residue signifying the trim used to be there is removed. 6. remove that gilted tissue holder and tartan rug from the rear parcel shelf immediately!! ;-) If you were to do something like that then I daresay you could argue effectively the car in the picture with the dealers name on the number plate, "I use unleaded" sticker in the rear screen, feu orange from the mirror and halfords mudflaps is nothing like your completely standard, unstickered freshly valetted car at all. But then you wouldn't do that as it would be highly illegal and I'm sure you'd get in trouble.

.Mark

11,104 posts

281 months

Thursday 26th April 2001
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Good points dubbs, but surely point 6 should be common practice anyway shouldn't it?

Diesel Dougal

43 posts

283 months

Thursday 26th April 2001
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Your Car then it must be you driving it. This is why you are asked to confirm and that it was you when you get the fine (you do in N.I.). Apparently it's amazing how many wrinklies with go faster zimmers own up to the offence in NI.!!!!

john robson

370 posts

282 months

Friday 27th April 2001
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Noted dubbs I came up with that one ages ago & a few others besides, but there are other ways of proving who it was and points or a ban are better than up to 6 months inside for perverting the course of justice. Trust me because quite a few have been done for it

dubbs

1,590 posts

289 months

Monday 30th April 2001
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Why is it that... If someone steals your car and they don't get caught after six months they are let off. If you speed it doesn't matter how long it takes... they get you. It's a warped world where the car thief can get away with saying "I was only borrowing it and intended to give it back" and get away with it whereas I can do 20% over the limit in perfectly safe conditiond and get nicked for it no matter what my perfectly reasonable excuse is.

Don

28,377 posts

289 months

Monday 30th April 2001
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Justice isn't part of the justice system all too often. Steal a TV from someone's house - not serious according to out legal system - won't even go to jail. Beat someone up - you might get away with it... Screw up paying the Govt. some TAX and watch the s**t fly. Open prison - here you come. I don't condone any crime at all - but it seems that the punishments are completely irrational all too often - and skewed toward any offence against the State rather than its citizens! Sorry. Rant over.

raceboy

13,244 posts

285 months

Monday 30th April 2001
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I imagine most car thiefs are guilty of speeding so maybe the police can arrest them for that crime instead, or maybe the answer is to register your car in a friends name, and if you get caught speeding clame you've stolen the car. That way you get a safary in Kenya, and a years stock car racing as well.

nubbin

6,809 posts

283 months

Tuesday 1st May 2001
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Our adversarial legal system is 800 years old, and was invented at a time when property was power, and a life was cheap currency. Therefore, property crime (and money is the ultimate refinement of property) is still considered more heinous than crimes of violence. HMG consider that speeding is an easy money option, as will hard-pressed Councils, and a nice little revenue earner. The CPS costs a lot of money in comparison, to convict a joy-rider, so they will always go for the cheaper option - if it increases revenue from fines, a double whammy!! QED...