Originally Posted by
johncar54
Sorry but don't see that in most cases there is any reason to believe that modifying the number causes any hazard to other road users and, as I said, altered plates usually mean the number is more easily remembered. If the alterations really affect the ability of a person to read the number I am pretty sure that the driver would be stopped and warned, cautioned, fined etc.
If I were in UK I would hope the police would concentrate on crimes, which affect the well-being of others. Police officer have discretion where to prosecute, in the old days, still so I hope, they turned a blind eye to the less serious offences.
These are but a few still on the statute books but which would seem likely to be ignored:-
60.
Prohibition of other nuisances.
Every person who, in any street or public place within the limits of the metropolitan police district, shall be guilty of any of the following offences, shall be liable to a penalty not more than [F68 level 1 on the standard scale]for every such offence; (that is to say,)
1. Every person who in any thoroughfare shall burn, dress, or cleanse any cork, or hoop, cleanse, fire, wash, or scald any cask or tub, or hew, saw, bore, or cut any timber or stone, or slack, sift, or screen any lime:
2. Every person who shall throw or lay in any thoroughfare any coals, stones, slates, shells, lime, bricks, timber, iron, or other materials (except building materials, or rubbish thereby occasioned, which shall be placed or enclosed so as to prevent any mischief happening to passengers):
3. Every person who in any thoroughfare shall beat or shake any carpet, rug, or mat (except door mats before the hour of eight in the morning), or throw or lay any dirt, litter or ashes, or any carrion, fish, offal, or rubbish, or throw or cause any such thing to fall into any sewer, pipe, or drain, or into any well, stream, or watercourse, pond, or reservoir for water . . . F69
(in London, shaking mats before 7 am