View Full Version : Why do people hide their numberplates?
In all the photos i've seen on this forum, videos on youtube, people seem to always hide their numberplates. Why is this?
I don't think it makes sense because hundreds of people see numberplates on the road...
paraniod about it getting cloned
Unless the person cloning the plate had exactly the same bike in the same colour, living in the same area then surely that wouldn't be a problem?
jamesterror
15-02-09, 05:31 PM
in case you accelerate too hard as you pass specifically spaced white lines and don't want to risk scraping it along the ground to avoid the surrounding government money makers.
the_lone_wolf
15-02-09, 05:35 PM
Unless the person cloning the plate had exactly the same bike in the same colour, living in the same area then surely that wouldn't be a problem?
there's plenty of Blue SV650s out there, if someone wants to ride around on nicked one all they need is a plate and they're ANPR proof...
Miss Alpinestarhero
15-02-09, 05:36 PM
Unless the person cloning the plate had exactly the same bike in the same colour, living in the same area then surely that wouldn't be a problem?
Nothing wrong with taking steps to protect your identity and veichle.
I know that anyone (with criminal intentions) who see's your bike & plate in 'your area' can do the same thing but thats not a great deal of people compared to a forum where anyone from across the world can view your photo & plate.
Just personal preference and what people feel comfty with I suppose
Dave20046
15-02-09, 06:01 PM
As said but can also make you traceable for any illegal activity's you post about on the net.
shonadoll
15-02-09, 06:02 PM
I don't hide mine, I've wondered that too.
punyXpress
15-02-09, 07:27 PM
It's all too easy ( & cheap ) for clampers & other lowlifes to get your address from DVLC
speedplay
15-02-09, 07:31 PM
Your supposed to supply the V5 when you get plates made up now to prove that you own the vehicle the number relates to.
Theres still one or 2 places round these parts that will make them without it though.
Well Oiled
15-02-09, 09:09 PM
I had the reg. off my old SV cloned. Think about it - someone nicks an SV and (naturally) doesn't want to get pulled on it. Go to a nice handy site like SV650.org, wade through some nice pics until you find one that near enough matches and has the plate showing. Get your dodgy mate to make up said plate and you're away.
First thing I knew was when the I was contacted by the Police somewhere I'd never ridden my bike (somewhere in Somerset IIRC) about some offences they'd logged. I'm surprised they believed me so readily and I didn't have to go out of my way to prove that I hadn't been there at the time.
So my advice would be to always blank out your plate on any pics you post.
Cheers Keith
JohnMcL7
15-02-09, 09:12 PM
Unless the person cloning the plate had exactly the same bike in the same colour, living in the same area then surely that wouldn't be a problem?
They don't need to live in the same area and for many vehicles there are popular colours or limited choice. At the moment SV650S bikes only come in blue or black as far as I'm aware so if someone was after a cloned plate for their black SV650s they'd no doubt come to a forum like this, find some member's pictures and probably be able to find a suitable bike pretty quickly. Likewise the car model I have is only available if three colours therefore if someone wanted to clone a numberplate it wouldn't be that hard to find a picture of someone else's car looking the same and nick their numberplate.
I don't clone vehicles so perhaps I'm thinking it through too much especially having seen cloning cases where it's not even the right model of car but on the other hand it can be considerable grief trying to sort it out, therefore I blank my number plate out when posting it.
One of the local car dealers has covers on all their cars sitting out, it hides all the digits aside from the year which I assume is for the same reason.
John
Exactly. If you were going to clone a ZX6R, you'd head straight over to a ZX6R forum wouldn't you? A Clio 197 and you'd head straight to a Clio 197 owner's forum, etc etc. Except there'd be little point since everyone generally covers up their number plate.
You're still at risk of being cloned anyway of course (your bike that is :) ), but I'd say the risk is far greater if you publicise your registration number on a public forum.
Jester666
15-02-09, 09:22 PM
Your supposed to supply the V5 when you get plates made up now to prove that you own the vehicle the number relates to.
Theres still one or 2 places round these parts that will make them without it though.#
Most internet plate sites don't ask to see the V5.
Law's changed now mate..
Can only get new plates, if you have registration documnet and a V5 i think..
Now illegal to sell show plates in the UK..
(probily just end up getting them from abroad, as we do with visors..)
kwak zzr
15-02-09, 11:09 PM
Law's changed now mate..
Can only get new plates, if you have registration documnet and a V5 i think..
Now illegal to sell show plates in the UK..
(probily just end up getting them from abroad, as we do with visors..)
got mine not so long back from malplates.
Your supposed to supply the V5 when you get plates made up now to prove that you own the vehicle the number relates to.
Yea, but you just buy the number plate making machine :)
Even a sticker over the numberplate would work, or even black tape to make the numbers (has been done).
arenalife
16-02-09, 12:46 PM
The best makers have now moved to Jersey to get round this so showplates are back on the menu again! Whether the manufacturing has actually moved or it's just a mailbox I dont know :)
If you nick a forum bikes identity you could also be pretty sneaky and make sure it's a good egg who keeps their bike taxed and insured, if you were really good you might even get their address in case you were pulled.
bluninja
16-02-09, 01:39 PM
Of course you could just go round at night and nick the number plate off a bike of the make and colour of your clone. The owner reports the theft to the police and gets a crime number to use in case of their number plate being noted on the other bike when it's doing something illegal.
DeeHawk
16-02-09, 02:00 PM
Well, if you go and think it through there's a lot of reasons as already stated, but even without given it thought I'd still pull the numbers off the plate in public pictures.
It's sensitive information. Like your email address, home address or phone number.
-Ralph-
16-02-09, 11:24 PM
Law's changed now mate..
Can only get new plates, if you have registration documnet and a V5 i think..
Now illegal to sell show plates in the UK..
(probily just end up getting them from abroad, as we do with visors..)
Not for us matey, thats an England and Wales law, the Scottish Parliment never passed it. If you go into Halfords or most UK chain's and they'll insist on your V5 etc, but thats only because its a company policy UK wide. If you go into a wee independant motor store you can get plates made up with anything you like on them.
Dave20046
17-02-09, 09:30 AM
Law's changed now mate..
Can only get new plates, if you have registration documnet and a V5 i think..
Now illegal to sell show plates in the UK..
(probily just end up getting them from abroad, as we do with visors..)
There's ways round these things ;)
Ceri JC
17-02-09, 09:32 AM
Not for us matey, thats an England and Wales law, the Scottish Parliment never passed it. If you go into Halfords or most UK chain's and they'll insist on your V5 etc, but thats only because its a company policy UK wide. If you go into a wee independant motor store you can get plates made up with anything you like on them.
Ta for that useful bit of info. I work up Scotland reasonably regularly, so will bear this in mind if I'm ever in the market for dodgy plates. :)
Dave20046
17-02-09, 09:36 AM
You can get them anywhere no one seems to bother complying to the law I got one made up (no dodgy intent on my part) a few weeks ago no questions asked. Maybe it's because it was apparent I'm perfectly innocent and genuine :mrgreen:
DeeHawk
17-02-09, 11:46 AM
I had the reg. off my old SV cloned. Think about it - someone nicks an SV and (naturally) doesn't want to get pulled on it. Go to a nice handy site like SV650.org, wade through some nice pics until you find one that near enough matches and has the plate showing. Get your dodgy mate to make up said plate and you're away.
First thing I knew was when the I was contacted by the Police somewhere I'd never ridden my bike (somewhere in Somerset IIRC) about some offences they'd logged. I'm surprised they believed me so readily and I didn't have to go out of my way to prove that I hadn't been there at the time.
So my advice would be to always blank out your plate on any pics you post.
It might just be a dominating fact that she was a minority and didn't speak very good english,.
Cheers Keith
Funny how they treat ppl different. I was watching a show last night on Danish telly, about cloning of vehicles. (off course, with focus on cars). A woman in Britain had her car cloned, and recieved several parking tickets from places she'd never been. She asked for photos as she continued to recieve tickets from the same places, and concluded somebody had cloned her car. She contacted the police, but got the response: It's not directly illegal.
Ultimately they showed up at her house claiming their payment. She called the police, who when arrived, agreed that she should indeed pay up, although she presented them with several corresponding letters and complaints she had sent to the authorities.
I didn't see the end of it, but she surely didn't go easy through it.
Oh, and by the way, she was a minority, not speaking english very good .
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