small number plates

[Tones]

Originally Posted by BaZa ®

He should carry a copy of the ACPO guidelines letter

The rules are now more open to interpretation and at the discretion of the police officer at the scene. The number plate if black on yellow and clearly able to be read at a distance of 20.4 m, or 65 ft with normal vision, without the use of any vision assistance, eg normal driving test standard vision. then that is deemed to be ok. this is so A.N.P.R (automated number plate recognition systems ) can identify said vehicle.

Any other deviation from these ACPO guidelines is at the discretion of the police officer at the scene....

I used to think that until I went for the MOT. Told the chap that I'd had it checked by an officer using ANPR and it was OK.
He has been instructed that he has to pass/fail using these guidelines. Got to go with the guy, it's his living at stake and he likes the sound of my pipes so I'm not going to rock the boat. Plus with all the police activety around here at the moment, I'd rather have a daft looking number plate, (to go with the rider) than get stopped all the time.

Display of Registration Marks
for Motor Vehicles
VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKS including marks offered for sale and purchased through DVLA’s Sales Scheme
must be displayed in accordance with The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (obtainable
from HMSO).
The Regulations specify the typeface, the size, colouring and the British Standard that number plates must conform
to (the alternative provisions for motorcycles, tricycles and traditional plates are also shown below).
Normal requirements

Motorcycles and Tricycles
There are separate provisions for motorcycles and tricycles. Basically motorcycles
registered after 1.9.2001 must only display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle.
Motorcycles registered before 1.9.2001 can display a number plate at the front but are
not required to.
Tricycles derived from four wheeled bodies i.e. saloon cars must meet the normal
requirements above whereas tricycles derived from motorcycles must meet the
requirements for motorcycles.
Character height 64 mm
Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) 44 mm
Character stroke 10 mm
Space between characters 10 mm
Space between groups 30 mm
Top, bottom and side margins (minimum) 11 mm
Space between vertical lines 13 mm
Traditional plates for vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973
Vehicles constructed before 1.1.1973 may display traditional style “black and white”
plates i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.
Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001
Number plates fitted before 1.9.2001 must display characters that meet the
dimensions shown in one of the two groups below:
Group 1 Group 2
Character height 89 mm 79 mm
Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) 64 mm 57 mm
Character stroke 16 mm 14 mm
Space between characters 13 mm 11 mm
Space between groups 38 mm 33 mm
Side margins (minimum) 13 mm 11 mm
Top and bottom margins (minimum) 13 mm 11 mm
Space between vertical lines 19 mm 19 mm

DVL

The British Standard
The British Standard sets out the physical characteristics of the number plate. This includes visibility, strength and
reflectivity. The British Standard also requires each number plate to be permanently and legibly marked with the
following information:-
1. The British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d)
2. The name, trade mark or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier
3. Name and postcode of the supplying outlet
Offences
It is an offence to alter, rearrange or misrepresent letters or numbers in order to form names or words or in such a way that
makes it difficult to read the registration number. Characters must not be moved from one block to the other e.g. AB51 DVL
must not be displayed as AB5 1DVL or AB 51DVL. Vehicles with illegally displayed number plates may FAIL the MoT
test. The police can also issue fixed penalty fines for illegally displayed number plates. Offenders are liable to a MAXIMUM
FINE of £1,000 and in some cases the mark may be withdrawn.
For vehicles with new or replacement number plates fitted after 31.8.2001, “3-line” number plates are no longer permitted.
Further Information
DVLA has produced a booklet entitled INF46 “Registration Numbers And You” which provides further details.

This is available for download from

www.direct.gov.uk/motoring or by writing to Customer Enquiries Vehicles, DVLA,

Swansea SA7 0EE.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by banquo

Reflector maybe? My MOT guy has been complaining about not having a rear facing red reflector, which is compulsory. I've had the bike from new, and it's never had one...

My 1990 and 2003 Harleys, also 2007 Buell, all bought new, still have their original rear reflectors.

[Battersea]

If I use the above dimensions my plate could be 174mm wide and 180mm high, is that right? because it's quite a bit smaller than the 'legal' plate I had made up some time ago.

Width Calc= margin+Char+space+Num+space+Num+margin. (11+44+10+44+10+44+11) = 174mm

Height Calc = margin+Char+space+Char+margin (11+64+30+64+11) = 180

My current plate is 178x154 so almost there

[panheadpete]

Hate to throw another spanner in the works but the Regs also state that any motorcycle registered on or after 1/9/01 must use a 2 line plate; before that a 3 line plate is optional - a 1 line plate is ALWAYS illegal.
(Since my trailer is designed to carry a 1 line plate, that's gonna be illegal too...)
Cheers,
Pete
(Just re-read the line:
For vehicles with new or replacement number plates fitted after 31.8.2001, “3-line” number plates are no longer permitted -eh?
Gordon Bennett.)

[panheadpete]

Oh, and on the subject of reflectors, apparently VOSA had a change of heart; a year or so ago every bike suddenly didn't need extra reflectors 'cos the European Certificate of Conformity allowed that the built-in reflector in the std rear light lens was OK...or something..anyway they're not insisting on selling you another one...around here anyway...
Did I say Aaaaargh?
Cheers,
Pete

[Hills]

I was out for a ride last Saturday near Pontefract in west Yorkshire. I had just started riding a long stretch of semi rural road that has a silly speed limit of 30 mph when 2 motorcycle police pulled out behind me and followed me very close for about 1 mile. I have loud V&H pipes and a 7x5 number plate. Despite them obviously having nothing better to do and following me very close, they didn't pull me or even bat and eye at me. Maybe they were Harley riders when in civvies, who knows, although I very much doubt it!

Hills

[Pocket]

I was pulled up in Whitley Bridge on the way home from Sherburn yesterday for doing 60mph in a 30mph & having a very illegal number plate (BAD4SSS).

I was lucky to get away with just a written warning on the number plate, meaning that if I get pulled again I'll get a £60 fine.

Thought it was very generous of them not to do me for the speeding!

Lynda

[Hills]

Originally Posted by Pocket

I was pulled up in Whitley Bridge on the way home from Sherburn yesterday for doing 60mph in a 30mph & having a very illegal number plate (BAD4SSS).

Hi Lynda

What size do you call a 'very illegal number plate'? Or was it more a case of the lettering?

Just out of interest of course

Hills

[Pocket]

Heyup Hills,

What I meant is that not only is the lettering too small, the 0 in BA04 SSS is a D!

Forgot to mention that Plod were in a dark red Volvo, so watch out!

They said they were operating out of Tadcaster, for North Yorkshire Police, and I was surprised they were so far south.

Maybe they were targeting Sherburn lovers, but then like I said, they let me off with the speeding, (might have been the floods of tears!) so I can't complain!

Lynda