Police bike check

Originally Posted by Baph

A sufficiently small plate can't be read by ANPR. I've had it proven to me that a 7x5 cannot be read by ANPR when you pass a stationary police car at 50mph.

That's exactly the caution I was given (along with my £30 fine). The officer's words to me, were "It's all well & good having a small plate, call it fashion, call it aerodynamics, but if some scouser comes & nicks your bike, I could be 5miles down the road & wouldn't know about it when they pass ANPR cameras. If you have a legal plate, I'd know about it. Which would you prefer

He should have been reported for discrimination!!!

I'd say if someone nicked my bike you wouldn't bloody care anyway!

Isn't it funny how people jump to conclusions?

What I wrote, was said by the officer in question with a smile on his face, and in a thick scouse accent.

Please, non of this...

[flymo]

Originally Posted by Baph

Isn't it funny how people jump to conclusions?

What I wrote, was said by the officer in question with a smile on his face, and in a thick scouse accent.

Please, non of this...

A scouse copper that nicks bikes at the weekend.....thats even worse!

I had never thought of this particular law being there for positive reasons - ie to assist ANPR and so recognise a stolen bike. I confess that I thought it was there simply to make life difficult. My bike has a legal dinner plate on the back, I can do without the hassle of being pulled, but I'd like a smaller plate as the present thing is one of Prince Charles's monstrous carbuncles. So the law is there to protect me from myself.

I wonder how many people actually realise that this is so. It seems to me that the government - and, with respect Pete, the police - have entirely failed to communicate what a helpful rule it is, rather than to whack people over the head with a fine and a finger wagging.

[G]

Originally Posted by Ed

I had never thought of this particular law being there for positive reasons - ie to assist ANPR and so recognise a stolen bike. I confess that I thought it was there simply to make life difficult. My bike has a legal dinner plate on the back, I can do without the hassle of being pulled, but I'd like a smaller plate as the present thing is one of Prince Charles's monstrous carbuncles. So the law is there to protect me from myself.

I wonder how many people actually realise that this is so. It seems to me that the government - and, with respect Pete, the police - have entirely failed to communicate what a helpful rule it is, rather than to whack people over the head with a fine and a finger wagging.

To be honest if my bike was stolen, I wouldnt want it back, it would be damaged, ragged no doubt and it would not feel the same.

Although strictly speak I have a legal plate now its not 9x7 but all the spacing, borders and letter sizing is 100% correct which is all the DVLA specify.

Onto the original topic I dont see the problem with bikes being pulled over in all honesty, alot do ride like idiot (myself probably included in some people eyes), alot do have illegal bikes......and a hell of alot dont have tax and insurance.

Car are pulled over just as much during the week so concentrating on the bikes at the weekend is not a big deal.

Originally Posted by Ed

I wonder how many people actually realise that this is so. It seems to me that the government - and, with respect Pete, the police - have entirely failed to communicate what a helpful rule it is, rather than to whack people over the head with a fine and a finger wagging.

Ah, but Ed, the way it was worded by the officer that stopped me, some people here have visibly taken offence (even if to a minor extent).

The words "can't do right for doing wrong" come to mind.

Originally Posted by Baph

Ah, but Ed, the way it was worded by the officer that stopped me, some people here have visibly taken offence (even if to a minor extent).

The words "can't do right for doing wrong" come to mind.

Well if people bothered to explain that these daft laws that we have to contend with really do have a sound purpose - I think I'm reasonably bright but it was lost on me - then perhaps people would realise that the man from the ministry really does have our best interests at heart. Instead of the Government's financial interest.

Basic failure to communicate. And people like Pete are given the thankless job of enforcing it.

[Bluepete]

At the end of the day, a number plate is there to identify a vehicle to any person on the road. Not just for my purposes, be it ANPR or just being nosey and stopping cars, but for others to be able to identify it if it were to be involved in a collision or criminal endeavour.

Therefore, a plate has to be legible and to that end, plate sizes, fonts and spacings etc are defined in law. With something like this, where a specific measurement is given, below that level is not legal, if it meets the requirements, it is legal.

There are no grey areas, too small is enforceable.

However, each force seems to have their own guidelines about enforcement. We all know certain forces are very keen to prosecute bikers for seemingly minor enfractions, others, (perhaps a northern city force?) have no huge influx of motorcyclists every sunny weekend, so have no press to stop and enforce the letter of the law.

As Ed says, usually, the order comes down from on high, and as poo trickles downhill, the PC's get to meet the clients and issue the £30 fine. They might not have an issue with small plates, but they all have a mortgage to pay, and orders are orders.

Perhaps better education is the key? Then again, bikers always seem to know the law better than anyone else so shouldn't be surprised if they aren't legal and get stopped.

So, we come back to the OP. He was stopped by Cops from a force with a notorious attitude towards bikers. He had a can with no baffle, but wasn't given a ticket for it. Lucky lad I say.

Pete

Well this has shed a positive light on things for me with it also being a plus with the ANPR if the bike is nicked . And I read Baph`s post as it was meant by the Officer , some humour on the Officers side with a cheeky wink I should gather ?