Beware - Crackdown on number plates

[Guest]

Dear All,

Just a note to say that the rozzers are cracking down on character spacing on cherished/private number plates. Got "caught" last night and issued with a vehicle defect notice although the cop said he should theoretically have given me 3pts/£60 fine. As it was the spacing and not the lettering size/shape and this is a relatively new enforcement, he was lenient.

This is due to the DVLA/Police discovering that number plate recognition software on their new cameras has problems with incorrectly/tightly spaced characters.

cheers,

Iain

 

[kitchens]

Thank's for the warning .

 

[John H]

Pleased to see that valuable police time is yet again being spent on seeking out the most heinous of criminals.

[]

 

[GreigM]

I thought that missing or incorrect numberplates were non-endorsable?

 

[Paul Fraser]

This might just be a Dundee/Tayside police thing: their traffic enforcement always seems to have been a bit more proactive than most Force areas, witness the number of times I've seen cars pulled by marked cars on the A92 either side of Dundee.
As to John's comment I'd like to see a lot more pulling of people with incorrectly spaced plates, faulty headlights, etc. etc. as a by product of this would inevitably be nabbing of drivers without road tax or insurance, or with false numbers. This latter group are apparently ten times more likely to be involved in a car accident, according to the ST (or maybe Observer) last Sunday.

 

[Fred Hindle]

The camera got my 'J33P FH' plate a few weeks before I was pulled for having incorrect spacing, told me (in a very unfriendly manner) to get plates corrected. Plate now reads 'J33 PFH' I'll leave you to guess what kind of vehicle it is on.
And they wonder why they are not getting co-operation from the public when it comes to more serious crime! Another case of lets bash the motorist.
Cheers,

Fred

 

[Guest]

Dear All,

I actually was pulled over in the middle of Falkirk town centre by a big 5 series beemer traffic car. He must have been lost (or getting a sandwich!). So I guess his natural hunting ground will be the M9/M876/A80.

It's a fair cop and I'm in two minds about it. If this new camera system is all that its cracked up to be, they can automatically read the plate and run a PNC to see if its been reported stolen / tracker activated. I'm I dreaming or does it just fire up the endorsement printer at HQ?

Just can't help feeling it was an obvious target judging by the number of "chav-clios" zooming around with comedy number plates on (size, font and spacing!). I'm beginning to question the wisdom of Porsche ownership again, hmm...

cheers,

Iain

 

[juliany27]

Perhaps, when you next come across a police car being driven at a speed above the limit and without siren/blue lights, you should flash the driver. He will stop and you should walk slowly to his car - and then warn him about his driving. Take a notebook, record his shoulder number and threaten to report the manner of his driving to his Chief Constable.

Now, this should have almost immediate results... the boot will be on the other foot and he will see what it is like for the 'normal' motorist.

And, before you ask, I have done this before. The look on the face of the driver had to be seen to be believed, especially when I formally cautioned him before he answered my questions []

 

[db@944s.co.uk]

Probably best to be driving someone else's car when trying that out!

 

[mikec]

You must have massive balls to attempt that[] Our Policemen up here usually have their sense of humour removed at initiation. Hopefully I'll not get stopped as it was my OPC which incorrectly spaced my numberplates to cover up their balls up on the PDI.[]

 

[944s2]

If its the number plate reader I've seen on tv its virtually instantaneous they can have a car a short distance down road to "pull" you.

With regard to complaining re Traffic cops I got an apology from two tailgating police bikes who were so close I could not see from wheel in mirror the "excuse" was they had been on escort duty for Prices Ann at Faslane and were late for clocking off............

 

[POR_NT]

I can sympathise with your sentiments, but where do we draw the line on what is acceptable and what isn't? Some motorists are taking the p*** big time, and have been getting away with it for years.

Everyone knows you shouldn't do it, and it's pretty hard to disguise when it's stuck to the front and rear of your car, so there's no point winging when the Police do eventually realise that it's getting out of control and pull you...

I think a warning is, in most cases, an appropriate measure, while others defintely ought to be issued with a fixed penalty...