View Full Version : Will I get nicked for a non-legal can?
GeneticBubble
16-03-09, 07:26 PM
straight to the point my bike has exhausts which say for race use only on them and they have no baffles, just wondering what sort of trouble would i get into if pulled over? plus would having baffles in make them any less illegal or would i still be screwed?
also what trouble do you get in for having a small number plate? :smt017
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 07:31 PM
a small plate is £30 fine and a rectification notice, your exhausts shouldnt be any problem til mot time, if you can polish the "not for road use" off it may even pass with it on.
charris
16-03-09, 07:31 PM
Hanging!
New legislation came in just yesterday, so I fear you may be out of luck!:rolleyes:
There is no definate answer, depends who stops you, why, and what sorta mood they're in.
However im sure there is gunna be lots of more helpful answers below.
BanditPat
16-03-09, 07:31 PM
3 points and a 60 quid fine for the exhaust and then the same for the small plate. You can buy plates with the BSAU number or what ever it is from ebay for your can though. and then polish off the "not"
GeneticBubble
16-03-09, 07:34 PM
just a thought would i get away with carrying a normal number plate in my bag and claiming that i just bought it? lol would be cheeky i know but just a thought.
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 07:34 PM
points for a zorst or plate? i dont think so.
BanditPat
16-03-09, 07:37 PM
points for a zorst or plate? i dont think so.
I know a guy that got done for it a couple of weeks back. 6 fresh points so you might not "think" so but amazingly it does happen
BigFootIsBlurry
16-03-09, 07:37 PM
points for a zorst or plate? i dont think so.
I didnt think it was points either, a fine or a telling off, depends on who pulls you.
GeneticBubble
16-03-09, 07:38 PM
i suppose aslong as the plates fine and im not making excessive noise past police cars i should be fine right?
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 07:39 PM
ive been stopped twice for plates with just a slap on the wrist, once for the zorst again just a telling :) was you in north wales by any chance?
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 07:40 PM
i suppose aslong as the plates fine and im not making excessive noise past police cars i should be fine right?
well the first thing ppl do with a sv is bin the standard can for a race jobbie.
BanditPat
16-03-09, 07:42 PM
ive been stopped twice for plates with just a slap on the wrist, once for the zorst again just a telling :) was you in north wales by any chance?
I think they may have been actually, or on their way back at least ;-)
Can't seem to find any recent legislation, but a Thames Valley MAG newsletter says that if you can get away with it fine, but if the law offer you a "retraction notice" then take it and get a new pipe!
You dont get points just for a small plate or exhaust....ANYWHERE;)
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 07:47 PM
You dont get points just for a small plate or exhaust....ANYWHERE;)
gonna say, ive never known it.
My bike passed with a "not for road use" exhaust on it 11 months ago. It got one of them yellow advisory notices about being a bit noisy but that was it. Apparantly it's not the Mot guys job to police the can just his job to make sure the emmisions and noise lever are ok. I am going to need an mot in April so will take the last report with me and by any luck hope that the next guy shares his views.
I think the problem would be the insurance would be voided though so when the renewal comes through I will ask if it can be insured with this exhaust.
BanditPat
16-03-09, 07:51 PM
You dont get points just for a small plate or exhaust....ANYWHERE;)
You would obviously know best so i'll sit out and when you get your points and fine from a copper with his head up his own **** i'll be sitting here ready to say i told you so
You would obviously know best so i'll sit out and when you get your points and fine from a copper with his head up his own **** i'll be sitting here ready to say i told you so
You do NOT get points for number plate or exhaust offences, what ever he got points for it was not that. The usual way to deal with it is a rectification notice (with or without a FPN depending on the copper) or for repeat offenders a prosecution leading to a greater fine.
gettin2dizzy
16-03-09, 08:18 PM
Never been pulled myself, and mine makes a frickin' loud noise :thumbsup:
Filtered past about 3 cop cars today too :)
Just found this from an official site.
Will I get points on my licence for a naughty number plate?
No. The maximum fine is £1,000. But the actual registration mark can be withdrawn by the DVLA as well, which then makes the bike illegal for road use.
dizzyblonde
16-03-09, 08:24 PM
Had a 'not for road use can' on one of mine since year dot, its passed every one of its MOTs with it on, so thats errrrr five?
Im Indoors was once stopped by the police with it on, it was late at night so obviously wanted to check his details....he was sent on his way with ''by the way, nice can ;-)''
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 08:25 PM
a can aint causing any harm is it.
ive got illegal cans on raptor and its very noisy. been pulled over by police when on a group rideout for a wee chat. police man advised us to keep revs down thru towns and villages and pointed out that noisy cans enable them to lie in wait. wee number plates are a different matter. police man said if it was letter box style he would fine as it makes it difficult to be read and therefore you must be doing something bad. lol. he was a nice guy. Its a risk you take. just dont take it in Wales
GeneticBubble
16-03-09, 08:39 PM
cool thanks for your wisdom everyone i will fit the standard number plate, but keep my exhausts. just have to make sure the mot people are ok with them
ranathari
16-03-09, 08:42 PM
your exhausts shouldnt be any problem til mot time, if you can polish the "not for road use" off it may even pass with it on.
Do not do this unless you are completely stupid. Polishing off the "not for road use" disclaimer turns a construction and use offence into a dishonesty one, which is legally more serious.
dizzyblonde
16-03-09, 08:45 PM
ive got illegal cans on raptor and its very noisy. been pulled over by police when on a group rideout for a wee chat. police man advised us to keep revs down thru towns and villages and pointed out that noisy cans enable them to lie in wait. Its a risk you take. just dont take it in Wales
Im Indoors wouldn't dare go back to Wales on the Raptor, he left them all with a headache last time:smt081
I've had my can on for a year and not been tugged so far. Been plenty of opportunity. Even in north Wales.
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 09:00 PM
Do not do this unless you are completely stupid.
calling me stupid?:smt017
I was followed so many times on sunday with noisey can and tiny plate and didnt get tugged at all thankfully.....even by the apparently terrorist police in matlock.
madness
16-03-09, 09:09 PM
a can aint causing any harm is it.
A mate of mine used to have a very loud baffleless microns on his RD125.
Though he never got done by the police, he did get a good hiding from one of his neighbours for keep waking his young baby! So technically having a loud exhaust can do some harm! ;)
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 09:11 PM
my sv1000s with microns was loud, i did think that when i go work at 5:30am i might get my head caved in one day.
ranathari
16-03-09, 09:13 PM
calling me stupid?:smt017
You're advocating doing something that's classified as perverting the course of justice and is way more serious than just getting a £30 fine.
If you want to use an exhaust that's not road legal, fine, just have the balls to own up to it rather than trying to hide it.
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 09:16 PM
i hope u never go above 30 in built up areas.
You're advocating doing something that's classified as perverting the course of justice and is way more serious than just getting a £30 fine.
If you want to use an exhaust that's not road legal, fine, just have the balls to own up to it rather than trying to hide it.
Why?
The only way you're peverting the courts of justice if you own up to polishing it off..
Which isn't the greatest idea...
madness
16-03-09, 09:18 PM
i hope u never go above 30 in built up areas.
Why? Do you?
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 09:21 PM
NOPE never :)
ranathari
16-03-09, 09:22 PM
Why?
The only way you're peverting the courts of justice if you own up to polishing it off..
Which isn't the greatest idea...
What? No. You don't have to admit to it to be found guilty of it otherwise no-one would ever be convicted for perverting the course of justice.
My point is that people should be aware that polishing off "not for road use" marks is potentially more dangerous than just leaving them on and hoping you don't get pulled by the police. Advocating removing them without making clear what the consequences could be is just stupid.
fizzwheel
16-03-09, 09:22 PM
The only way you're peverting the courts of justice if you own up to polishing it off..
Or they can prove that you did polish it off.
I dont know where or when I read it, or even if its true, but allegedy the police take a very dim view of removing "not for road use" or "race use only" markings from cans.
ive been stopped twice for plates with just a slap on the wrist, once for the zorst again just a telling :) was you in north wales by any chance?
I've been stopped more times than I care to think about.
Only twice have I had anything said about the plate. Once was whilst stopped at an accident, and nothing was said other than "small plate on that bike.."
The other time was after being stopped for crossing a solid white line. Neither time there was nothing said about the loud can (nor the excessive speed the latter time), and when stopped for white lining, the copper was sat about 3ft from my exhaust doing 50mph.
kwak zzr
16-03-09, 09:25 PM
remember those bsi engraved badges you could stick to your can? if it had bsi written on it then it made it bsi approved altho the badges looked stupid and old bill and mot stations knew they were fake? explain that then.
Red Herring
16-03-09, 09:38 PM
Exhausts that do not conform to regulations, ie: they do not have the BS/E markings and especially if they have "Not for road use" or "For racing purpose only" are techniclly illegal and they can be dealt with in several ways. You can be reported for summons in the old fashioned way, this means the copper has to write a report and submit a file (not likely unless there are other jobs as well), they can issue a fixed penalty (£30 no points) OR they can give you a rectification ticket. Technically when they issue you with a rectification they are reporting you for the offence, however provided you fix the fault/put it right within 14 days then they will not submit the file. They cannot give you a fixed penalty and a rectification. It's also worth bearing in mind that the rectification does not mean you can ride around for 13 days without getting done again....you're back in play as soon as you ride away.
Altering the exhaust to try and make it look legal, ie: polishing out the markings or adding your own, is a crime rather than a road traffic offence, however they do need to prove you did it, which without an admission on your part might be hard, unless you were daft enough to buy the plate on your credit card....
As for number plates anything smaller than a barn door is illegal, however guidelines are that if it can be read at 20.5m then it should be advice only.... however they are guidelines and you're being an @rse expect them to get bent.
ethariel
16-03-09, 10:17 PM
The only thing anyone ever mentions about my Sv is that my tax disc is out of date (might get round to taking the holder off one day - silly security allen bolts that i lost the key for...ggrrrrr).
Never mentioned the small plate, the slogan on the plate ot the baffleless can (other than to be asked if he can rev it a couple of times and then walked off chuckling).
Respect the person pulling you an d you will probably get clean away, be an @rse and ecpect to reap the whirlwind.
dizzyblonde
16-03-09, 10:23 PM
Or they can prove that you did polish it off.
.
mines written there as large as life, but you'd think with all the polishing of bikes I do, it would have magically disappeared in the 8 years its been on the bike;)
Just dont speed near a police car, and keep it in a high gear when going past one.
fraser01
16-03-09, 11:05 PM
LOL if you want to have illegal cans and plates on your bike then that's your responsibility but take it on the chin when you do get issued a fixed penalty ticket and Rectification notice.
The legislation is in place, it all depends on what the officer decides at the time, remember not all coppers are bikers so they may not know what they are looking for.. And guidelines vary from force to force.
Plates and exhausts are non endorsable ticket offences, i.e £30, no points.
keith_d
16-03-09, 11:13 PM
I'm not an experienced biker or a Plod but I've seen a few of these threads around and it sounds like the general rule is that if you're riding safely and don't make an **** of yourself they probably won't stop you. If they do it will probably be a Rectification notice and maybe a 'producer'
On the other hand if you're riding dangerously and give the guys that pull you a lot of lip they'll do you for Speeding and two Construction and Use offenses. That's nine points and you'd better ride carefully or you'll be on the bus before long.
After all, the whole point of discretion is to allow the police to nick the people who are a danger to themselves and others without wasting their time on people who're riding safely. but maybe a little more quickly than they should.
Of course this doesn't apply in North Wales where speaking anything except Welsh is an automatic three points.
Keith.
ranathari
16-03-09, 11:23 PM
remember those bsi engraved badges you could stick to your can? if it had bsi written on it then it made it bsi approved altho the badges looked stupid and old bill and mot stations knew they were fake? explain that then.
They're not legal, end of. They may have been but they're not now.
Geoffrey
17-03-09, 12:48 PM
Polishing off the "not for road use" disclaimer turns a construction and use offence into a dishonesty one, which is legally more serious.
having a race use stamped or unstamped can is the same thing so i cannot see why you will be punished any further as a can needs to carry an approved stamped in the eyes of the law to be road legal
my nipper received three points for having an illegal exhaust on his old bike but he had been given four fixed penalty fines prior to this for the same offence.
-Ralph-
17-03-09, 01:11 PM
ACPO guidelines say illegal number plates should not lead to prosecution unless they are unreadable from 20.5 metres, but advisory action should be taken. But this is only a guideline, police forces can choose to enforce the law to the letter if they have some idiot like Brunstrom at the helm. Same goes for illegal dark visors during daylight hours.
As for the can, the SV can pull from 2500 revs, just keep it quiet through villages and when you see a police car and your not likely to get pulled. If one comes the other way through town or I'm passing a stationary one I just close the throttle and let the engine run on until I'm past.
Maybe best to keep your baffle under your seat and put it in if your stopping at a bike meet that often has a police presence.
ranathari
17-03-09, 02:36 PM
having a race use stamped or unstamped can is the same thing so i cannot see why you will be punished any further as a can needs to carry an approved stamped in the eyes of the law to be road legal
my nipper received three points for having an illegal exhaust on his old bike but he had been given four fixed penalty fines prior to this for the same offence.
Polishing it off is not the same as just not having an approved stamp. If you polish off a "not for road use" mark then you're essentially acknowledging that the exhaust is going to be used illegally and attempting to conceal that, which is a criminal offence. Merely lacking an approved stamp (if the manufacturer didn't put one on) is just a civil offence.
The latter is trivial, the former will show up if you ever have to declare any criminal convictions. It'll show up as perverting the course of justice or some other dishonesty offence without any further clarification, which can be a complete job killer.
I have never been stopped for my cans....EVER, and thats in 8 years. They are marked 'Not for road use' i have however, been stopped and fined for a small plate. £30 was the fee, and a letter from the DVLA saying if i get stopepd again, i will loose the entitlement to the resistration mark and a Q plate issued...or something along those lines. I am a good boy an change both at MOT time.
If i get stopped, then as frasier says, i take it on the chin! Its a stupid law, and one i break, but its my risk.
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