Vince Green Posted April 29, 2023 Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 We have been today to a country park near Redditch with a number of family members. Most of them were my sons in laws. One lad is a probationary police officer. He took a lot of interest in a car in the car park with what he said was a dodgy number plate. It had raised plastic letters and numbers which he said were stick on and that was illegal. He also said these sort of plates are commonly found on cloned cars or cars with fake plates because they could be bought off the Internet. Has anybody else noticed these plates? Or any thoughts on them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted April 29, 2023 Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 As long as the plate has the correct reflective backing and the font and size/spacing are correct there should be no problem with stick on numbers and letters , They sell them in motor factors for making plates up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted April 29, 2023 Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 I wonder did he think it looked suspect as the spacing between the characters was done in a way that suggested a word rather than look like a normal reg number. A lot of the local boy racers round me faff about with their number plates and Ive heard them gurning about getting fines from the local fuzz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 Did he do anything about his suspicions? Did he report the vehicle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 Sounds more like a nosey Karen, sticking his nose in. Ought to keep it out and his gob shut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted April 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Did he do anything about his suspicions? Did he report the vehicle? He made a note Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 older vehicles always had raised no on plates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 Far as i know, 3D gel number plates are legal. I see loads of BMW's round here with them. 7 minutes ago, hawkfanz said: older vehicles always had raised no on plates. Correct. I used to make them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 Hello, a family day out should be just that and I'm with centrepin on this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scutt Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 number plates used to be part of an M.O.T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 11 minutes ago, scutt said: number plates used to be part of an M.O.T. Probably still are, but the garages that carry out the MoT inspections NEVER bother because the answer is always, "I'll put the real ones back on" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted April 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 I have found out the answer. Raised "3D" letters and numerals create a shadow in certain lighting conditions . Particularly at night when the cars number plate light is above it. This makes the plate harder to read by ANPR cameras and other security cameras because it distorts the image seen by the camera. Also stick on letters can be just as easily unstuck and rearranged They are sold as show plates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 So he was quite correct, they are illegal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 I think there illegal but unless a police offer stops them and puts them on section 5 ????? next time there stopped for that offence they can seize the car . They never stop a car just for the number plate though they just use it to top up charges at the side of the road when they stop you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 We have so many illegal plates in Brum, just not spaced correctly to spell names.I’m sure you could employ a number of people and they would be self financing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted April 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 1 hour ago, Bigbob said: I think there illegal but unless a police offer stops them and puts them on section 5 ????? next time there stopped for that offence they can seize the car . They never stop a car just for the number plate though they just use it to top up charges at the side of the road when they stop you From what he was saying it's an indicator there might be more worth investigating 4 hours ago, scutt said: number plates used to be part of an M.O.T. They are if they are cracked. I had to have one replaced at an mot a few years back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 10 minutes ago, Vince Green said: From what he was saying it's an indicator there might be more worth investigating They are if they are cracked. I had to have one replaced at an mot a few years back Most folk just change there number plates now so speed cameras cant read them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spr1985 Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 (edited) Seems to be quite a lot of speculation and misinformation on this thread, So to clear this up. The police are there to enforce law and legislation, they are not there to make it up as they go along. They can interpret however they like but it does NOT make them correct. FACT :- 3d number plates are perfectly legal providing they are made to British standard. and the link to the irrefutable answer should any one choose look. https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-number-plates Edited April 30, 2023 by Spr1985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 3 hours ago, Spr1985 said: Seems to be quite a lot of speculation and misinformation on this thread, So to clear this up. The police are there to enforce law and legislation, they are not there to make it up as they go along. They can interpret however they like but it does NOT make them correct. FACT :- 3d number plates are perfectly legal providing they are made to British standard. and the link to the irrefutable answer should any one choose look. https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-number-plates Yes but they also need the makers details and numbers/figures should not be removable so he may have got the reasons wrong but it’s still an illegal plate 😇 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted May 1, 2023 Report Share Posted May 1, 2023 Just my opinion but the raised numbers and letters look "tacky" to me, I want to be different type attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted May 2, 2023 Report Share Posted May 2, 2023 Been working around Walsall lately, there are a lot of grey number plates. What's that all about? Speed cameras not liking them.. I'd have thought the chance of a Bobby seeing them was much higher than that of finding a working speed camera. Mind you the roadside information boards show messages like "Drugs impair driving" and "don't drink and drive" and "hide your valuables", the one into stafford tells you what's going on at the showground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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