Illegal Number Plate? Not a Problem, Sir
A constituent (a cyclist, naturally) has just sent me THIS from the Driving Standards Agency’s website. I can’t seem to get the link on to this page, so go to www.dsa.gov.uk and look for latest news.
“Despatch Express - Illegal number plates
DSA has agreed with DVLA that our examiners can report illegal number plates on cars which are presented for test. This is in response to concerns raised by a number of our examiners. Our priority is to ensure that vehicles in which driving tests are conducted are legal. Vehicles presented to test which prima facie have illegal number plates may now be reported to DVLA under the arrangement we have with them, however, it is a matter for DVLA whether they take any action. As safety of the vehicle is not affected by the number plate, an illegal number plate will not preclude a car from being taken out on test.”
Very odd - you can turn up with an illegal number plate and still take a test. Perhaps it depends on what “illegal” means here - if the size of the letters is wrong, I could see an argument (just) for discretion. But if “illegal” means “false”? May be I have just got the wrong end of the stick…
Julia Gilbert said on October 30th, 2007 at 6:12 pm:
Illegal number plates are a huge problem in this country. There are many ways a number plate can be illegally represented e.g. addition/removal of letters, illegal fonts, addition of screws, modification of characters etc. Have a look at the hundreds of examples at http://www.flickr.com/groups/twatplates/
Number plates said on November 6th, 2007 at 10:12 am:
Amen to that! One of the downsides of our industry is these people who mis-space their plates so horrifically. It gives the whole hobby a bad name.
Tizzy said on November 8th, 2007 at 2:18 am:
If the examiner can read the (illegal) number plate, what’s the problem? Or are the rest of us dumber than examiners?
personal number plates said on January 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm:
Mis-spacing and misrepresenting personal number plates is never clever. And I’ve seen some shocking examples that people try to pass off with the use of additional screws and squashed numbers. It really doesn’t look good, and it’s just asking for trouble.
Getting tough on illegal number plates « Number plates. Buy. Sell. Transfer. said on January 15th, 2008 at 8:28 pm:
[…] Whilst many have taken the risk, and got away with it for some time, the various authorities are starting to crack down on illegal number plates. Even driving examiners are being encouraged to report illegal number plates on cars that are used to take tests in. Although I think Ed Vaizey (Shadow Minister for Culture) has maybe got the wrong end of the stick with his comments on illegal number plates….? […]