Coppers... eh..?

[Englishman2010]

His number plate is illegal

[Dedworth]

His number plate is illegal

That's one of my pet hates jerks using illegal fonts and spacing on plates. I've started making a nuisance of myself phoning the local plod and getting a crime report number each time I see one. Black Range Rovers are major offenders normally the driver is a drug dealer, would be gangster or look at me type.

[KeithD]

I've started making a nuisance.....

Well you get plenty of practice on here

[Arthur Little]

Probably insignificant ... but did anyone else on here happen to notice - from the CCTV footage - that neither of the two "arresting" officers were wearing their police caps at the time of this incident?

[James Hubbard]

Probably insignificant ... but did anyone else on here happen to notice - from the CCTV footage - that neither of the two "arresting" officers were wearing their police caps at the time of this incident?

it's an urban myth that they must wear their caps during official cop-business

[bornatbirth]

the silly old fool deserved it "i thought the flashing lights and sirens were giving me a escort home"

Well you get plenty of practice on here

i have grown to like dedworth and am getting fond of reading his posts

[Arthur Little]

the silly old fool deserved it "i thought the flashing lights and sirens were giving me a escort home"

Don't know about THAT, exactly ... the police officers DO seem to've been a bit "heavy-handed ... but I'm surprised he's still licensed to drive such a large vehicle, given his medical history!

i have grown to like dedworth and am getting fond of reading his posts

Never thought the day would come when I'd see YOU saying that. But yeah ... his deadpan humour DOES tend to have an appeal of its own

[Englishman2010]

That's one of my pet hates jerks using illegal fonts and spacing on plates. I've started making a nuisance of myself phoning the local plod and getting a crime report number each time I see one. Black Range Rovers are major offenders normally the driver is a drug dealer, would be gangster or look at me type.

It was probably you that reported me for the incorrect spacing and strategically placed screw head on my Italian Stallion

[Dedworth]

It was probably you that reported me for the incorrect spacing and strategically placed screw head on my Italian Stallion

Yep

[johncar54]

His number plate is illegal

Just think before you make too much fuss about 'personalised' number plates. I agree if the number cannot be read but in almost every case the 'altering' of the number makes it much easier to remember. Very useful if you are involved in an accident etc.

On a slightly different point. I remember an internal notice to the Met Police some years ago, which referred to the idea of a `personalised number' as being 'childish or foolish' and for that reason discretion should be exercised.

Quite funny as for time the official car of the Commissioner of the Met had a personalised number.

[Dedworth]

Just think before you make too much fuss about 'personalised' number plates. I agree if the number cannot be read but in almost every case the 'altering' of the number makes it much easier to remember. Very useful if you are involved in an accident etc.

On a slightly different point. I remember an internal notice to the Met Police some years ago, which referred to the idea of a `personalised number' as being 'childish or foolish' and for that reason discretion should be exercised.

Quite funny as for time the official car of the Commissioner of the Met had a personalised number.

There is now a glut of idiots using incorrect fonts, spacing, screw heads etc in blatant disregard of The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 which the Police seem to be unwilling to enforce. If the offenders choose to disregard these rules how many others do they ignore. I'd like to see a zero tolerance policy introduced.

[johncar54]

There is now a glut of idiots using incorrect fonts, spacing, screw heads etc in blatant disregard of The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 which the Police seem to be unwilling to enforce. If the offenders choose to disregard these rules how many others do they ignore. I'd like to see a zero tolerance policy introduced.

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

[Dedworth]

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

Cambs Police Sergeant Simon Goldsmith and I would disagree - this number plate legislation needs to be enforced to prevent cloning, aid identification of vehicles etc. I'm not quite sure of the present situation but I know a few years back there were moves to make such plates MoT failures - I think the then Govt lost it's bottle to crack down on those who flout laws just because it suits them

The list of Met Police District offences still on the books that you quote is amusing - I wonder if dressing a cork is a bit like dressing a crap or maybe its Olde English for cross dressing

[KeithD]

....If I were in UK I would hope the police would concentrate on crimes....

Doesn't happen these days, they go for the easiest targets with instant results to keep the crime figures up, rather than solving what the public would consider 'real' crime.

[Dedworth]

Doesn't happen these days, they go for the easiest targets with instant results to keep the crime figures up, rather than solving what the public would consider 'real' crime.

That's why the number plate offenders would be an easy target for them but maybe it doesn't involve bunking off back to the station for a lot of form filling at overtime rates

[KeithD]

That's why the number plate offenders would be an easy target for them but maybe it doesn't involve bunking off back to the station for a lot of form filling at overtime rates

It's only a fixed penalty notice though, not an arrest.

[Dedworth]

Just think before you make too much fuss about 'personalised' number plates. I agree if the number cannot be read but in almost every case the 'altering' of the number makes it much easier to remember. Very useful if you are involved in an accident etc.

On a slightly different point. I remember an internal notice to the Met Police some years ago, which referred to the idea of a `personalised number' as being 'childish or foolish' and for that reason discretion should be exercised.

Quite funny as for time the official car of the Commissioner of the Met had a personalised number.

There is now a glut of idiots using incorrect fonts, spacing, screw heads etc in blatant disregard of The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 which the Police seem to be unwilling to enforce. If the offenders choose to disregard these rules how many others do they ignore. I'd like to see a zero tolerance policy introduced.

To quote Sergeant Simon Goldsmith of Cambs Police "Over the next few weeks we will continue to conduct regular road checks to target vehicles with illegal number plates.

"Not only is it an offence to display these plates but it also creates problems with vehicle identification."

The most common offences in relation to number plates are changing the font and spacing of the registration.

Anyone caught displaying an illegal number plate more then twice could have the number revoked by the DVLA."