pappasmurf

...just fitted a smaller size number plate to the front my Classic and i'm amazed how it has transformed the front end look of my Scoob. The lower grille looks bigger and more aggressive.
Very eye catching....which means it will be eye catching to the 'plod' aswell i guess...or may'be not?
What should i tell them if i get stopped?......" It must have shrunk in the car wash officer?"
I know people who have never been stopped.....anyone had any problems?

flat4

ran 2 years without being stopped on my last car, just don't go around attracting attention

Franko

When you say smaller do you mean the lettering is smaller too???

I've got my front plate smaller but kept the lettering as standard... i'm not sure but i think keeping the lettering standard on a smaller size plate should be ok?

I know someone who's got 2" * 6" ish plate with really small lettering he hasn't been stoped yet!

Franko

Gangsta Smurf

Got stopped twice ... on second occasion I was given an MOT producer - if I get caught again then they will confiscate the plate! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Although if probably didn't help me pointing out to the officer that he couldn't spell Illegal (he spelt it Illigal) lol - my comment was "So do you need a GCSE in basic English to join the police force?" he said "what's your point?" I said "because you obviously don't ... Illegal is spelt I.L.L.E.G.A.L <smug grin on my face>"

Whoops! he was a g@sh anyway!

hardy8

Where did you get your small plates from and what price would I be looking at for some?

Thanks

scooby_si

this maybe of use to keep in yer glove box if u have an import
Si

Jza

Good old TSL made me a plate - Legal lettering and spaces - but they trimmed off the edges as tight as possible.... not been pulled as the texts legal - so they would have to be really petty to have a go.

Jza

Scooby96

"New regulation 14A makes special provision in relation to the size and spacing of characters in the registration mark of certain imported vehicles."

Which cars then?

scooby_si

hmm maybe not so well on scoobies then but presumably those without european wide approval or wotever u call it.......
Si

Geddon

Having a small number plate is the same offence as having no number plate. I got stopped twice on a bike with a small plate- by the same officious t*sser in the same T5 I might add. Its non endorsable- was in 2000 anyway and was £20 fine each time. Much cheaper than Gatsos at the time...

Group Captain Smudger

I have trimmed my plate and have been stopped once cos there was mud obscuring it (oops how did that get there? No matter the nipper got the blame - from the copper!). I suppose technically speaking even trimming the plate is illigal (police skool of spelin). The powers that be are obsessed with number plate sizing, etc. They state it's all to do with reducing crime - yeah right. Go to Italy and they have miniscule plates by comparison, yet their car related crime is much lower. The humungous number plates we have to put up are just plain ugly.

IanW

Rules for Import Plates

HOWEVER the Impreza would not fall into this category.

scooby_si

hmmm but my next car might
Si

minty

iTrader: (1)

But i thought that the WRC cars had to be road legal and you can hardly see some of the front plates because of how they are fitted to the lip spoiler.





[Edited by minty - 9/26/2003 3:11:04 PM]

RobinSherwood

I don't have a small plate on the Scoob, but I do have a small almost Italian sized plate on the front of my Italian classic car.

Obviously this is not a daily driver, but just in case I do get stopped the plate is attached with heavy duty velcro and I have a full size plate in the car. I envisage something along the lines of "Terribly sorry officer forgot to change the plates back after the last Car Show it was exhibited in" as I set about changing the plates over in front of said officer.

Don't know if it will do any good but is presumably worth trying?

Robin

Ralf Paris

I reckon that the WRC based story is the best. Once they get full size plates on those, then i'll change mine !!! LOL

Lone Ranger

Very interesting but it says that it applies to vehicle where there is no space to fit a normal plate. Or have I misunderstood?

GC8

All JDM vehicles which have an apeture which closely matches the size of a Japanese registration plate may use a non-standard sized plate with regulation motorcycle sized characters. If you ask the VRO nicely they may try to accommodate you and select a six character index number for you as well; enabling a single line layout.

Simon

scoobylav

I have a small plate on the front and you are right it does give a different look to the front. The secret is to only let the coppers see the back.

greasemonkey

Indeed they do, when being driven in this country.

There was a bit of a conflagration between the constabulary and the WRC teams a few years ago, 2000 I think. Ended with all UK registered cars being forced to run with big front plates:


They've run sticky plates over the last couple of years, but full size. Either way, I don't think you'll have much luck using "Well, WRC cars use them!" as a valid reason if pulled by the plod for a small plate!

sg72

I've got a WRC Sticky plate on mines.

No probs 6 months on.

Then again I'm old......Hee Hee!

STEVECHAPS

Robin. The "It's a Show plate & I forgot to change it back after ***** show last weekend, honest orificer" ruse does work, even on officious t&*ts like the Plod Scooby who got me for going a touch too fast at 7am on a Sunday morning on a deserted straight country road! It obviously helps if you have the bigger version & screwdriver in boot .

quicksprint

I have been running a round for the last month or so without a plate on the front.(It's in the boot with a screwdriver ready just in case!!)
My excuse is that someone tried to nick it but must of been disturbed and it is in the boot until i can get some new bolts!!

And it's just coincedental that 'trevelo's' and the like read from the front.(it will go back on once my LRC100 arrives)

And i do not agree to speeding......right??

[Edited by quicksprint - 9/27/2003 12:53:18 PM]

[Edited by quicksprint - 9/27/2003 12:54:34 PM]