Police Persucution - Plates and Pipes - READ THIS!

Thought I'd tell you about what the money-collecting gits of Perthshire police are up to. I was merrily trundling along a rural road on a nice sunny day, minding my own business and actually travelling at the speed limit (unusual for me!). I was kitted out in sensible old-git gear and clearly riding properly.

I rounded a corner to find a panda car parked up and a police man waving me in. He had no speed gun. He told me that because of the number of biker deaths in the area, they were stopping every biker "for a quick chat". He then looked over my bike and insisted on seeing the e4 road-legal stamp on my obviously original exhaust. Then it happened - he got a ruler out of his pocket and measured the letters on my plate (which is small but by no means a ****-take). "Ah - you're plate is below legal size - that's a £30 fine.". No discussion, no chance to be let off with a caution, despite everything else being absolutely OK, despite knowing that I had been riding a bike for 20 years continuously, despite knowing I had no points on my licence and despite knowing I haven't had an accident for 10 years.

I quizzed him some more and they had two cars parked in various places with 2 patrol men in each standing there all day doing nothing but stop bikes. They were not trying to catch speeders, they were not even looking at cars - just pipes and plates. How is having the right plate going to change my chances of being killed?

I think this is an utter disgrace and waste of police time. Yes my plate was illegal but I am now left complete disrespect for the police who are clearly doing it for money.

One question - can they stop people without reason? If not, can I appeal saying they had no reason to stop me (which they certainly did not).

[Balky001]

despite knowing I had no points on my licence

...because the camera couldn't read your small plate by any chance??

I have a legal plate but unmarked can so I guess I would have caught a fine too - I just can't understand the plate thing if the letters are legible. The chav mobiles with their blocked italics are large but impossible to read (I know they are illegal too). It does seem a waste of police time though - doubt if you can win an appeal if they were given the OK to stop bikers to advise on safety but if that was the case they didn't keep in the spirit of the project by fining people. Worth a go

Originally Posted by mastiffmat

I am now left complete disrespect for the police who are clearly doing it for money.

And that is the problem, more and more (mostly) law abiding people are thinking this - it is very sad and does nothing for general law abidingness in the country.

I know you can ask for a "deferred test" which means that you can elect when and where they "inspect" your bike - MAG shouted about it a couple of years back....



Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)
________________________________________
SCHEDULE 2
Section 67.
Deferred Tests of Condition of Vehicles
1. Where the driver is the owner of the vehicle, he may at the time of electing that the test shall be deferred-
a. specify a period of seven days within which the deferred test is to take place, being a period falling within the next thirty days, disregarding any day on which the vehicle is outside Great Britain, and
b. require that the deferred test shall take place on premises then specified by him where the test can conveniently be carried out or that it shall take place in such area in England and Wales, being a county district or Greater London, or such area in Scotland, being an islands area or district, as he may specify at that time.
2. When the driver is not the owner of the vehicle he shall inform the examiner of the name and address of the owner of the vehicle and the owner shall be afforded an opportunity of specifying such a period, and such premises or area.
3.
1. Where under the preceding provisions of this Schedule a period has been specified within which the deferred test is to be carried out, the time for carrying it out shall be such time within that period as may be notified, being a time not earlier than two days after the giving of the notification.
2. Where no such period has been specified, the time for the carrying out of the deferred test shall be such time as may be notified, being a time not earlier than seven days after the giving of the notification.
3. Where premises have been specified under the preceding provisions of this Schedule for the carrying out of the deferred test, and the test can conveniently be carried out on those premises, it must be carried out there.
4. Where sub-paragraph (3) above does not apply, the place for carrying out the deferred test shall be such place as may be notified with the notification of the time for the carrying out of the test, and where an area has been so specified the place shall be a place in that area.
5. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, the time and place for the carrying out of the deferred test may be varied by agreement between an authorised examiner and the owner of the vehicle.
6. In this paragraph-
"notified" means notified in writing to the owner of the vehicle on behalf of the Secretary of State, and
"notification" shall be construed accordingly,
and any notification under this paragraph may be given by post.
2. The owner of the vehicle must produce it, or secure its production, at the time and place fixed for the carrying out of the deferred test.
3.
1. References in this Schedule to the owner of a vehicle are references to the owner of the vehicle at the time at which the election is made under section 67(6) of this Act that the test should be deferred.
2. For the purposes of this Schedule-
a. subject to sub-paragraph (b) below, if at the time at which that election is made the vehicle is in the possession of a person under a hire-purchase agreement or hiring agreement, that person shall be deemed to be the owner of the vehicle to the exclusion of any other person,
b. if at that time the vehicle is being used under an international circulation permit, the person to whom the permit was issued shall be deemed to be the owner of the vehicle to the exclusion of any other person.
© Crown copyright 1988
This information is brought to you courtesy of MAG, the UK's largest and leading riders' rights organisation.

If stopped at the roadside ask for a 'Deferred Test' of your motorcycle, the inspection of your motorcycle can be deferred for up to 30 days and you can state when and where the inspection is to take place.
A 'Deferred Test' can only be denied if the vehicle is in a dangerous state (i.e. bald tyres or no brakes)
Things such as exhaust cans, small registration plates and headlamp covers are not sufficient grounds to class the motorcycle as 'dangerous'

You can join MAG over the phone using your credit card. Phone 0870 444 8448 for details. Alternatively write to us at MAG UK, PO Box 750, Rugby, CV21 3ZR and visit our website at www.mag-uk.org

Don't delay - join today. Single membership is £20, joint is £30

Well it's easier that catching all the escaped prisoners isn't it

I was about to say ask for a Deferred Test...

Originally Posted by andy

And that is the problem, more and more (mostly) law abiding people are thinking this - it is very sad and does nothing for general law abidingness in the country.

Originally Posted by andy

I know you can ask for a "deferred test" which means that you can elect when and where they "inspect" your bike - MAG shouted about it a couple of years back....

Wish I'd known about that....

I'm under the impression that they have to have a reason to specifically stop you and that has to be because they suspect you of having done something wrong. Maybe that's not right but maybe worth a try. I didn't get any points so it's primarily the money but it's also the principle of it.

I think i might print out that deferred test thingy and carry it with me, especialy if im on the Bandit with its 'slightley' loud Art can lol

Originally Posted by mastiffmat

Thought I'd tell you about what the money-collecting gits of Perthshire police are up to. I was merrily trundling along a rural road on a nice sunny day, minding my own business and actually travelling at the speed limit (unusual for me!). I was kitted out in sensible old-git gear and clearly riding properly.

I rounded a corner to find a panda car parked up and a police man waving me in. He had no speed gun. He told me that because of the number of biker deaths in the area, they were stopping every biker "for a quick chat". He then looked over my bike and insisted on seeing the e4 road-legal stamp on my obviously original exhaust. Then it happened - he got a ruler out of his pocket and measured the letters on my plate (which is small but by no means a p*ss-take). "Ah - you're plate is below legal size - that's a £30 fine.". No discussion, no chance to be let off with a caution, despite everything else being absolutely OK, despite knowing that I had been riding a bike for 20 years continuously, despite knowing I had no points on my licence and despite knowing I haven't had an accident for 10 years.

I quizzed him some more and they had two cars parked in various places with 2 patrol men in each standing there all day doing nothing but stop bikes. They were not trying to catch speeders, they were not even looking at cars - just pipes and plates. How is having the right plate going to change my chances of being killed?

I think this is an utter disgrace and waste of police time. Yes my plate was illegal but I am now left complete disrespect for the police who are clearly doing it for money.

One question - can they stop people without reason? If not, can I appeal saying they had no reason to stop me (which they certainly did not).

Surely you knew your number plate was illegal? I think it's fair enough. We all take liberties with the law to certain extent with regards to number plates, exhausts, speed etc (me included ). and we know we are doing it so we shouldn't whinge on when we get caught.

[Biker Biggles]

I'm no legal expert but Perthshire is in Scotland and they have different laws up there.You may find the deferred test does'nt exist under Scottish law,or the right to challenge why they stopped you.

Originally Posted by lukemillar

Surely you knew your number plate was illegal? I think it's fair enough. We all take liberties with the law to certain extent with regards to number plates, exhausts, speed etc (me included ). and we know we are doing it so we shouldn't whinge on when we get caught.

Yes I did - it's not the fact that I got done for it (although it's annoying since the plate is pretty large compared with many I've seen!). It's the fact that I was stopped whilst driving safely and legally on the pretence of "having a chat" and then nabbed for the plate.