German style number plates

[Hoobs]

Apologies if this has been covered before but I have just been stopped by the traffic police who were pretty determined to find something wrong with my car. After 20 minutes the only thing they could come up with was that my number plates are ''made of tin and non reflective''.

I remained extremely polite and said that I thought the plates were in fact reflective and that as they had been on the car for 2 years and they were perfectly legible, they must be legal? I also pointed out that the MOT had been passed with them in situ.

Anyway, they took loads of photos as ''evidence'' before handing me a £60 fixed penalty notice. The offence is written as being ''registration mark incorrectly displayed'' (format). The officer also said I was committing fraud by leading people to believe my car was from Germany. I bit my tongue at that point as I didn't think he'd see the funny side if I informed him BMW's like mine were all German.

So, what do I do? Do I pay the £60 and chalk it up to experience or am I in with a shot if I take my case to court? I figure the worst that can happen is the fine bumps up to £90 but it might be worth the gamble?



The terrible offence!

[snowmaan]

yeah i got done for that too i just payed up as you will never win with them
worst thing is i had only had the car 1 day and the plates came with it. they still did me tho

[Hoobs]

So are there any plates that ARE legal apart from regular UK ones?

[Cypriotgeeza]

when they were looking for things wrong with your car did they pop the bonnet?

[Hoobs]

Yeah, and the boot.

They asked about all the modifications but luckily I have declared everything to my insurance company.

I just smiled politely and bit my tongue. I would have liked to say how petty they were and what a complete waste of time and money the whole event was. I do have some sympathy for the Police but pulling people over and being so determined to try and find an offence just gives them a bad rep in my opinion. They even moaned about the crackle & pop from the exhaust on over-run FFS!

[jann]

Seriously im starting to dis like police... I thought they were alright like but iv'e been pulled over in my BMW Twice in 3 weeks for no apparent reason. I think its because "Oh its a old bimmer he's bound to not be insured and taxed" Plus it doesn't help im 19 and black " Well he must be a drug dealer"
Just be smug mate, me personally would take it to court. And a lovely E21 pal.

[Felix79]

The D on the plates is illegal. Should be GB

[Hoobs]

Is the font itself legal though? If I were to cover the D and just leave the European stars would it then constitute a legal UK plate?

If I have to change the plates, I'm not actually too bothered but I do want to find out what options we have here in the UK? I'm guessing we don't have many?

[Cypriotgeeza]

Is the font itself legal though? If I were to cover the D and just leave the European stars would it then constitute a legal UK plate?

If I have to change the plates, I'm not actually too bothered but I do want to find out what options we have here in the UK? I'm guessing we don't have many?

your guess is right..have to be a certain font..certain spacing..blah blah blah

[Kemix]

Search for my topic 'Stopped by Essex Police' I got away with my £60 fine by taking it to court, they then just dropped the whole thing. Worth a shot.

[GemE30]

Both me and John have got some of those style plates, the only difference is, we don't have a D / GB, they are just blank, reflective and have the postcode on that they need to have.

[rob_k]

I'm a mot tester, in fact I'm doing one now. There not legal as the font and d badge is incorrect but you'd have to be having a bad day to fail them. From a courts point of view if they can not be read by anpr cameras then your on your own

[E30BeemerLad]

German/ pressed plates are for gays & attention whores

No sympathy for people who get pulled over by plod, the same as poser types who space private plates to spell names etc.

[Royalratch]

+1

[Cypriotgeeza]

I'm a mot tester, in fact I'm doing one now. There not legal as the font and d badge is incorrect but you'd have to be having a bad day to fail them. From a courts point of view if they can not be read by anpr cameras then your on your own

wouldnt want you testing my car while your on the net mate lol

[mcbunny]

legal pressed plates

http://www.dubmeister.co.uk/webshop/uk- ... al-plates/

[Cypriotgeeza]

the plate surrounds on that site say it all about pressed plates..

VW and Audi specials!

[si911t]

I have no idea about the legality of your plates, but do really like the look of your car.

got any more pics of the front and side?

[charlE30]

I have no idea about the legality of your plates, but do really like the look of your car.

got any more pics of the front and side?

Just what I was thinking and the pressed plates do really suit your E21

[HairyScreech]

mot takes 40 mins by law so a lot of time is spent picking your nose and drinking tea.
so the zones a fair use of this government enforced waste of time and customers money.


its the anpr issue thats the problem, just see the retards thread in pub talk. they want to monitor and track you everywhere, in order to do this they need everyone to have easy for anpr to read plates.

[Security2U]

German plates are cool you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong cops.

Here is my merc with them fitted also have both E30s with them fitted also.

[Barx325i]

and is the reason for stoppage at a guess. they'd have been monitoring the on board anpr when your plates didn't read. I'm guessing the mis matching tires would have raised their suspicions further. But yes, I was pulled over in a golf many moons ago, they went over everything, VIN etc.. Then I was given a defect notice for a tire & obsured plate. They didn't measure the tread depth & it was absolutely fine this was only 2 days after it passed the mot without advisories for either

knoblets

[Security2U]

And the front.

[Hoobs]

Search for my topic 'Stopped by Essex Police' I got away with my £60 fine by taking it to court, they then just dropped the whole thing. Worth a shot.

Thanks, I'll take a look.

[MattTheHat325]

the whole reg plate fiasco has just paled into insignificance after seeing those pics, dude that is one seriously sick car! hats off my man

[rob_k]

I'm a mot tester, in fact I'm doing one now. There not legal as the font and d badge is incorrect but you'd have to be having a bad day to fail them. From a courts point of view if they can not be read by anpr cameras then your on your own

wouldnt want you testing my car while your on the net mate lol

LOl I've got to make some use of my time waiting for the time to run out after a test!

[Cypriotgeeza]

I'm a mot tester, in fact I'm doing one now. There not legal as the font and d badge is incorrect but you'd have to be having a bad day to fail them. From a courts point of view if they can not be read by anpr cameras then your on your own

wouldnt want you testing my car while your on the net mate lol

LOl I've got to make some use of my time waiting for the time to run out after a test!

lol so you cant log another one on untill 40mins? What a stupid rule!!

i reckon the pigs where just jealous about how nice your car is..gorgeous E21!

[Hoobs]

i reckon the pigs where just jealous about how nice your car is..gorgeous E21!

Thanks.

[ali50ferrari]

Maaaaan your e21 is PHAT!! Any spec on the car. . . . Yh n plod hasnt got anything better to do!

[Hoobs]

It's running BBS RM 15 X 8 & 9's, Gaz golds, Wilwood brakes, 2.7 with Schrick cam & 6 branch etc. LSD & Whiteline uprated ARB's. K-mac top mounts. Hi ratio steering rack. Rare Motorsport rear spoiler and Alpina copy up front. Single wiper conversion. Free flow exhaust system from Zero exhausts (sounds awesome!) Inside it's leather Recaros and rear seat / headrests. MoMo steering wheel, quick-shift. Dyno'd at 207bhp /223ft/lbs.

[pac1982]

German plates or no german plates, thats a sweet ride dude

[Green]

Agreed. That e21 is just epically epic.

The plod clearly had nothing better to do, wrong place at the wrong time. If you want to save £60 take the court, may cost you time but it's the principle that you've had them for 2 years with no issues.

Also clearly on an old car as tidy as yours they just pulled it over the crack of it as the ANPR would've detected it's all legitimate. You bring up the fact that they wasted x amount of time searching over a show condition car instead of looking out for actual uninsured and unsafe drivers.

[Hoobs]

Thanks for the positive comments - much appreciated.

I did get pulled in Ladbroke Grove last summer as my cherished transfer hadn't been updated, and the police then said how much they liked the plates! Go figure.

Anyway, I have sent the ticket back with a print of the stuff on the Essex thread so we shall see I guess?

If not, I'll be on the lookout for some legal plates - maybe.

[Hoobs]

Well it's now May the 11th and I've had no response from the Police and it's been over 3 months. I sent the ticket back with a photo copy of the number plate legislation in the other plate thread, in an effort to baffle them with b*****ite!

I can't help but wonder if they have just decided not to bother or if there is still time for a summons to turn up in the post?

[magpie]

after 6-months nothing will happen .

did you read my run in with plod .

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ight=legal