Got pulled for my no. plate, shall i change it ?

ben_wheely · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Karma :

A police car followed me half way home yesterday from work, i knew he was behind me so i was on my best behaviour Smile

I went to pull into a petty station, so i changed lanes, so i checked my shoulder, then realised he had his lights flashing (i have no mirrors, so i didnt notice before). Went into station and he followed me.

He said that my number plate was not legal and too small and the letter was not the legal size. My number plate is small, but not that small (pic below). He said that he could not read the 'W' of the last letter of my regestration. Which tbh the lettering is a bit crap, and the 'W' isn't very clear. (pic below)

So do i change it for a legal one - the main reason i do not want to put a full size on, is because when im offroading/greenlaning i got more chance of it being broken. Plus they look gay. Or ...

Should i just get another one made up the same size, but with clearer lettering ?

The officer let me off a penalty, but if i see him again, will he ? What is the maximum penalty/prosecution ?

https://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6549/dsc0096802.jpg
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Rides: '05 Yammy WR290-F

shaba2000 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Karma :

I been stopped for my number plate by some miserable copper on a out to get bikers mission.. He was also a biker!!

I never changed it to be honest as he didnt get my details.

If he got your name etc then change it as it will be on record but if he didnt then take a chance and if you get stopped again then change it..

I think its a £60 fine but not sure.
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kawasaki Ninja-zx6r 1997 (f3)

The Original Muzza · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Karma :

If you're using it offroad and don't want to damage it you could always just put a banging donk on it.
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Current Bikes: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (2020)
Former Bikes: Honda MSX125 (2014), BMW Funduro (1996), Honda VT500 (1983), Yamaha FZR250 (1989), Suzuki GZ125 Marauder(2005),:Triumph TT600 (2002) (stolen)
From then on, I and the bicycle feelings deeper.

Aendain · Derestricted Danger Joined: 27 May 2009 Karma :

Why don't you just take it off when greenlaning? Confused

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It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it. Very Happy

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

ben_wheely · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Karma :

He asked for my name, but he didnt make a note of it or report it.

He wasen't too bad, he was saying that if it got stolen then the police may find it hard to indentify the bike, as the number plate cant easily be read. Which i spose is true.

The 'W's are a bit crammed, but you couldn't mistake it for another letter ?

I may get a flexi plate soon, which is more suited for offroading, and i'll make sure the letters are a bit more readable.

Aendain · Derestricted Danger Joined: 27 May 2009 Karma :

J D · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Karma :

Its not a dt Laughing

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

ben_wheely · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Karma :

Some MOT garage's do not require legal plates, as long as they are not tiny. The garage i take my bike(s) too, does not care about the size of the plate, as long as it is readable and it has a reflector on it. This plate passed its MOT in december, with my small sticky reflector.

And no it not a DT, its a WR250F - as my signiture states.

Yeah as iooi says, coming off the bike or dropping it, which is very common when offroading. Not only that but a bigger plate could possibly catch on something whilst riding, and rip the number plate/mudguard off.
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Rides: '05 Yammy WR290-F

delvey91 · Crazy Courier Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Karma :

The devon and cornwall police are being a bit picky about plates lately, I was stopped and fined £30 for mine and it wasnt even as small as yours. Mine was a 8x6. I rekon just get a clearer one made up Thumbs Up

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2016 Honda Africa Twin
2006 KTM 200 EXC

ben_wheely · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Karma :

Ah, sorry to hear. Where abouts in devon/cornwall are you ?

So many bikers i seen today riding through plymouth town with tiny number plates.

So if your stopped and get fined £30 or whatever it is, and you pay it off ect.. what happens if your stopped again ? Do you pay another £30 and be on your way ? Or do they ask you to provide evidence that you have purchased and fitted a legal size plate ?
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Rides: '05 Yammy WR290-F

K0rnIsAFAGGOT · Trackday Trickster Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Karma :

I thought i read on here you can get points and a fine for it now?

tsmith · Traffic Copper Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Karma :

i think its a 60 pound fine now.

i got pulled back in 1996 for having a small plate - got a 30 pound fine. I've got a Givi Monorack fitted and the plate is too big to fit between the arms unless you either cut it or fit a smaller plate!

The coppers seem obsessed with the size of the lettering. What I ended up doing was to cut around the edge of the original plate, making it smaller but leaving the lettering the correct size. Had no problem from them since.

MarkJ · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Karma :

t121anf · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Karma :

i wouldn't change it, only reason i change my illegal ones is to get the mot man to stamp the form the police give you.

i tend to leave legal for 30days, as i only tend to get pulled during a clamp down, then its back to illegal.

i'd just take it on the chin and leave it was is, if he made no record unless he remembers you no one will know.

forget it and keep riding.