Number Plates

[mrwiggles]

I am a Police Officer and i regularly pull cars for obscured plates, word to the wise though - providing an officer can READ the plate they will usually leave you alone, i certainly would. Problems arise when they cannot see the markings or they are obscured by logo's.

Avoid italics, they are ILLEGAL! (and have been since 2001) and if you hold a private registration you can have it revoked and lose your £££.

Finally - i may be fighting a losing battle but for those of you, or who know people that drive with the fog lights on please stop - i'm running out of £30 tickets.

regards

[sideswipe]

Nice one and well said ..................I am often blinded by silly mindless people that seem to think that driving with the front fogs on is cool, looks cool, or their car do .

Lets take lastnight for example ,Whilst driving down to visit my sister lastnight I went along the country road as I always do , no fog -2 road in the dry you can normally do 40-50 at the very max , no this complete and utter mullet comes racing round the corner full beam on fog lights on SIDEWAYS after I changed my under crackers, I was very angry , went out made sure his pasenger was ok and then let rip , took his number and reported him as soon as I got to my sister .

But really it was a waste of time after telling the police officer (or civvy worker)what happened and where all he said was "what do you want us to do " Not the sort of responce I was hoping for but sort of understood what he meant.

I agree with the number plates also , although mines would be deamed illegal cause no obstruction to what the actual number plate is but dows have a logo to the left side , so as you are a man of the law could you tell me if you would pull me for it.

Oh and do me a favour stop hiding behind bloody bushes would ya lol

[mrwiggles]

Those bushes are so darn comfortable though!

The only reason Police will pull you is if they cannot read the plate, for example if the plate is unreadable by using Harsh Italics, Brush Script or Callista type text fonts.

Black backgrounds with white text are a big no no, you can only use these plates on a car Registered before 1971. I myself wouldnt pull you but some 'Power Happy' cops might.

As long as the plates are readable from the front and back then ok, its not the green light to go out and say 'This cop on the megane forum said it was ok' becuase it is still illegal but not many cops would stop you for it... they have bigger fish to fry!

The only time they may stop you is if they suspect you may have been drinking, cops need a reason to request a breath test from you and by having incorrectly liveried plates it a good example - however if you are over the limit you deserve to be pulled anyway!

So in answer to your question, i would only pull cars with plates that i couldnt read, or read easily from a Reasonable Distance.

[sideswipe]

Nice one , and again I agree with you , with the drink drivers and drug drivers also , Aunt was knocked down by a young guy that had just passed his test the week before and was high as a kite , I dont have a tollerence level for theses people a nice quiet place somewhere usually does it for me, but I am getting old now.

Thankyou

[DaveP]

I thought our plate wasn't too bad compared to many I've seen - the only thing not strictly legal was the spacing - we had separated the five from the zero in the 05 so the five was near to the letters (AND) (my wife is called Sand). The figures are all full size, non-italic, normal font and clean and clear.
The policeman who pulled us over obviously doesn't share your point of view mrwriggles! He threatened us with £1000 fine and confiscation of the plate but as it was the first time we just got a lecture about a case where a child had been injured by a hit and run driver where the plate was illegible so they couldn't catch them.
We've changed the plate back to the legal version but it did feel a bit over the top, I guess we were just unlucky as I've got friends with worse cases that have been driving for years without a problem.

[jpgreenwood]

Hi nice mrwiggles. Any reference to rozzers, 5-0 or any other is purely in jest and no offence meant. Nice mr police officer sir.
ps, are you one of those stupid wiggles that sing and dance on ceebeebies?

[MeganeChick]

Well, how about the stickers with the club logo.
It would be nice to see someone known from the forum, especially when you are abroad.
Zdrówko

yea that would be a good idea

p.s. excuse me if this is a silly question but why is it illegal do use your fogs when its not foggy? I dont do it myself - but when i see people with them on they dont appear to be too dazzling or anything? obviously having your full beams and fogs on it stupid when there is traffic about - but have wondered about the fogs?

[Ray]

On a first glance it could appear they were braking.

and on a personal note.. it just annoys me... a bright red light will catch my eye before something else so i could potentially miss a vital factor when i'm driving.

[MeganeChick]

On a first glance it could appear they were braking.

and on a personal note.. it just annoys me... a bright red light will catch my eye before something else so i could potentially miss a vital factor when i'm driving.

yeah i see what you mean about the rear fogs - i think i was referring to front fogs really?

[robznet]

Hi all

Done a bit of research and came across this.

Fog Lights Crackdown on Hazardous Drivers

Daft motorists who use their fog lights in clear conditions in Coventry are facing a fine in a clampdown by traffic police.

Officers based at Fletchamstead Highway police station say that the blinding lights are being misused, and it is proving dangerous to other drivers.

A £30 fine will be imposed on drivers who break the law by going around with their fog lights on.

Acting Sergeant Nigel Fairburn said:

"We have been receiving complaints from members of the public who have been dazzled by motorists using their front fog lights when there is absolutely no need.

"The legislation states they are only to be used in conditions where visibility is serious impaired – generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet).

"We will be issuing fixed penalty fines of £30 to drivers who leave their front fog lights on despite the clear conditions.

"We believe that some motorists, especially young ones, are confused about their front fog lights and their use.

"Basically, if the lights are on a separate switch with a warning light on the dashboard, these are fog lights, and should only be used in extreme conditions.

"If they come on when you flick on the main beam switch then they are driving lights not fog lights and will disappear when the lights are dipped or switched off.

"Also drivers should ensure they remember to switch off rear fog lights after use as they can mask the brake lights of the car as well as dazzling motorists travelling behind."

Hope it at least explains the legal side of it!

Regards

Rob

[MeganeChick]

Hi all

Done a bit of research and came across this.

Fog Lights Crackdown on Hazardous Drivers

Daft motorists who use their fog lights in clear conditions in Coventry are facing a fine in a clampdown by traffic police.

Officers based at Fletchamstead Highway police station say that the blinding lights are being misused, and it is proving dangerous to other drivers.

A £30 fine will be imposed on drivers who break the law by going around with their fog lights on.

Acting Sergeant Nigel Fairburn said:

"We have been receiving complaints from members of the public who have been dazzled by motorists using their front fog lights when there is absolutely no need.

"The legislation states they are only to be used in conditions where visibility is serious impaired – generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet).

"We will be issuing fixed penalty fines of £30 to drivers who leave their front fog lights on despite the clear conditions.

"We believe that some motorists, especially young ones, are confused about their front fog lights and their use.

"Basically, if the lights are on a separate switch with a warning light on the dashboard, these are fog lights, and should only be used in extreme conditions.

"If they come on when you flick on the main beam switch then they are driving lights not fog lights and will disappear when the lights are dipped or switched off.

"Also drivers should ensure they remember to switch off rear fog lights after use as they can mask the brake lights of the car as well as dazzling motorists travelling behind."

Hope it at least explains the legal side of it!

Regards

Rob

thanks Rob - that clears it up for me at least

i havent really noticed that the front fogs dazzle - but must be if people are complaining? fair enough

[arn1085]

I ordered mine today from https://www.no1showplates.co.uk, just gave em a call, sent over the artwork an they are on their way!

[markgodden2008]

i have recently changed the plates on my megane, but they r still completely road legal. i was careful when coming up with a design, my old fiesta plates had the ford logo in the background which apparently is illegal, i did not know this at the time! the new plates on my megane now are a plain simple 3d font with a chrome border. i did this to remove the advertising from the garage i brought the car from after being very disatisfied with the service, my thoughts were, y should i advertise for those unless *****!!!!!

[shinyautos.com]

Our plates are now available at £20 a set any design.

[gavnaysh]

only illegal bit on my plates is the spacing i took the gap out of the middle and had all 5 letters spaced evenly standard text had plate 3 years and never been stopped