Legal standing of 'L' Plates

Mattastic · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Karma :

Basically my rear L plate has fallen off (must be the sheer power of my machine Wink

) but the one on the front is still in tact. I know that you have to display L plates when on a CBT but if I am caught riding with only one in place until I can be bothered to replace it what could I expect from our "friends" in blue?
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Too skint to buy a bike Sad

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Think they take that quite seriously and I "think" you get 3 points or something Confused

Not 100% sure but seem to remember 3 points from some where!
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

Laura · Playboy Bunny Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Karma :

3 points per L plate missing.
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Good girls ride motorcycles bad girls thrash them.

cliff · Doctor Sicknote Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

I got pulled with no back L-plate, I just blagged it that it had fallen off and my dad had just gone out to buy a new one. He said fit it quickly and ride safe. Incase you were wondering why he tugged me, it's because I look so small and young. Rolling Eyes

I'll grow someday......
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Sweet reggae music.

Mattastic · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Karma :

I better invest in a new one then! The only thing in my defence would be that you can see the remains or the rear L plate where I fastened it down.
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Too skint to buy a bike Sad

cliff · Doctor Sicknote Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

It really all comes down to what kind of copper pulls you. Thumbs Up

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Sweet reggae music.

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

They are only like £0.99 for fucks sake, just go buy one and stop moaning Razz

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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

Irdawood the 2nd · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Karma :

Yes its 3 points for each plate, or you can get them paper sticky plates and keep them in your bag. When they stop you say they fell off and you picked them up and your just on your way to the bike shop.
I have been stopped twice and used this excuse both times and got away with it Smile

.
But mind you it would be simpler to just have them on.

T.C · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Depending on how reasonable you are when you get stopped and the story you give, many motorcycle bobbies will give you a warning, however, many will record it so that if they see you again it will result in a booking.

Penalty is 3 points and £60 for each L plate offence, if it goes to court up to £500 and 6 points.

L plates must be 7 inches square (the size when new) clearly visible to the front and rear of the vehicle.

If it is trimmed down to make it smaller, 3 points, if it cannot be seen although it is fitted, 3 points, if it is missing, 3 points, in short any transgression can result in 3 points and the £60 fine or the higher penalty if it goes to court.
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Mattastic · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Karma :

Got to work without any trouble today, I'll get some on my way home tonight, it's just a ball ache finding somewhere to chain the bike etc
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Too skint to buy a bike Sad

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

If you don't want to display L plates... take your test!

Valentino Mossy · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Karma :

T.C · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Dez25 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Karma :

I would get it intact i got caught with no front L-Plate i instantly got 3 points and a £60!!!
My insurance quotes hav now rocketed through the roof its not worth not having one on!!
The police wouldnt even listen to any of my stories that it must off fell off they throught the book at me!! Twisted Evil

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jay12329 · Dr. Evil Joined: 02 May 2003 Karma :

Why all the fuss about L-plates? If it falls off get a new one. They cost less than a quid. When I lost my back plate I got a new set when I got fuel. Put one on and put the other under my seat incase I lost another one.
J

cagiva gezzer · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Karma :

My mate got 3 points and a fine for no L plates, but they let him off for the lack of MOT.

If you don't want them, leave them to fall off and if you get pulled say "sorry officer, they were there when i checked my bike at the start of the journey. Thank you for pointing that out, i'll fit some straight away"

They can't do you if you claim you checked your bike and they were there. Well, they prob could as the 'justice' system will do anything now...
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

carvell · Scuttler Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :

Well if you blatently lie to them what do you expect.
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Yamaha TDM 850

divuk83 · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Nov 2003 Karma :

I got 3 points and 60 quid fine because I had only had a bit of my L plate left after some twat snapped it off when it was parked in town. Annoyingly I had my test booked for the following month. Grrr....

Cops are increasingly laying down the law when it comes to not having L plates. Either buy a new one or do your test as I doubt you will be lucky enough to blagg it.

Dave

strac · L Plate Warrior Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Karma :

keep a snapped Lplate in ure bag or under ure seat if you have the lil storage thing

Craig_ · Trackday Trickster Joined: 06 Oct 2003 Karma :

3 points per L Plate and a Â£60.00 fine per plate.

What you should do is mount the L at the bottom of you plate but also run a V-Shaped thing metal banding to the bottom of the plate and bolt it on, may weight an extra 10g but saves the L-Plate.
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Mattastic · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Karma :

AcIdBuRnZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Karma :

Hi,

I had both plates on after CBT, but high speed wind snapped the front one, so I just removed it completely.

Only had the rear one for almost a year, until test 3 weeks ago.

I've been riding behind cops, in front of cops, riden past cops, stopped outside police station, not one even blinked at me Rolling Eyes

Just depends where you live I suppose. ATEOTD it's only a piece of plastic, it ain't gonna save your life!

All the best,

Mark
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Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
"Chickity China the Chinese Chicken..."

The BeefMeister · Crazy Courier Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Karma :

I got pulled over for having one missing and they followed me to the garage to get a new one and they let me off. Otherwise it would have been a Â£30 fine.
Also when i got stopped for doing an amber light Rolling Eyes

they commented that the bottom of my L plate was all curled up and it wasn't the legal size or something.
Depends what mood the ol' bill are in really. Usually a crap one but you get a few that let you off.
We got one officer asking us If our bikes were derestricted and we all said no rather innocently but then he started coming out with he had his derestricted when he was out age. Probably making us do it so we get caught but that would be hard to get found out unless you went past a police car doing somewhat more than 30mph (50's) or whatever the limit is on a 125.
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nsr125sp · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Karma :

i no someone that got three points and a Â£60 pound fine for not having a rear l-plate, the cops round here are really strict with leaners,