Numberplates

[storminateacup]

The following was lifted from the Essex POlice Website this morning so beware after all the press about the police not taking action on small plates etc.

Essex Police is joining a week long nationwide campaign to crackdown on illegal number plates starting today January, 28.

Following the success of a pilot scheme run in Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police forces, Operation Larch is being launched. The campaign aims to step up enforcement of current regulations following the growing use of unlawful registration plates by motorists.

The seven day operation will aim to:

• Identify any links between the use of misrepresented registration marks and criminality
• Provide suitable evidence to justify changes to penalty levels for related offences
• Maximise the disruption of criminal activities and reduce crime levels.

Frank Whiteley, ACPO lead on Automatic Number Plate Recognition and Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: “Criminals make use of vehicles to commit crimes and in some cases, will tamper with number plates in order to try and avoid detection by roadside cameras. Operation Larch will bear down on this growing concern as part of the police service’s ongoing campaign to target criminals through their use of the roads.

“It is not known how many motor vehicles display misrepresented number plates or how many are driven by active criminals, but Operation Larch will provide intelligence for the first time on the link between this offence and broader criminality, and inform a debate around the tightening of legislation around number plate offences.”

Illegal alterations range from changes to the layout of plates or use of non-standard fonts, through the use of tape, screws, and other objects to obscure plates, to sophisticated measures such as the use of stolen or false number plates to clone vehicles.

The police want to reinforce the message that registration lettering and spacing must comply with regulations which specify the typeface, size, colour and British Standard for plates.

The campaign will highlight that it is an offence to alter or rearrange letters or numbers in a way that makes it difficult to read them.

The law states that:
• You must not alter, rearrange or misrepresent the letters or numbers
• Characters must not be moved from one group to the other (e.g. A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC)

Offences may result in any or all of the following:
• A fine of up to £1,000
• The registration mark may be WITHDRAWN WITHOUT COMPENSATION
• The vehicle may FAIL an MOT test

Number plates must be replaced if they have been customised with:
• Stylised letters and/or figures such as italics
• Number plate fixing bolts that alter the appearance of the letters and/or numbers

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be deployed during the campaign and officers will also catch offences on digital camera. The motorist will be given an opportunity to replace the illegal number plate and a letter will be issued by the DVLA advising the owner that they are aware that an offence has been recorded.

More details about number plate regulations are available at http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v796.pdf

January 28, 2008

[sirch345]

Cheers for that SIATC

Chris.

[vtrkarl]

my small plates staying until i get pulled at leastbleeding nanny state goung stupid

[lee67]

my small plate staying put, had em on all my bikes for years and years no hassle yet, been out all today..and weather looks bad for next week or so.......so by the time its nice again there week long campaign will have finished....haha

[LotusSevenMan]

Well I for one am running the full size rear plate.

Actually, I'd have that one twice the size if I could..................... but that's only 'cos I have the registration

'VTR 1K'



I do have a smaller, yellow one but that's not to discuss on here!!!!