From a police point of view, a dirty number plate is a great excuse to stop a car and see if any other offences are revealed.

 

I once knew a Special who was being trained by a PC. They stopped a car purely for a headlight out and got from that:-

 

1. Drink driver

2. Stolen vehicle

3. Fraudulent use of a tax disc (from another vehicle)

4. Other offences taken into account.

 

So should police pull over a car with a dirty numberplate? Of course they should.

There was a story in our local paper about a guy getting an FPN for a dirty rear plate on the Edinburgh bypass.  He claimed that one trip up the A7 had done it as he had set off with a clean car.  It was the usual "local businessman" type of story which implies they should not follow the same rules as the rest of us.

 

I had no sympathy for him at all, I drive a taxi and the inside, the number plates and the lights are always clean even when the rest of the car is manky.

 

When I did over 1000 miles a week as a sales rep I was also able to keep the lights etc clean.  Like a previous poster I often used the bucket and sponge supplied at most garages and then a paper towel so I could use the wing mirrors.  Common sense regardless of how busy you are.

Where I work ALL vehicles whether they belong to the company or not need to have valid tax, insurance and MOT, also all employees cars have to be reasonably clean on the outside as it creates a good impression

I'll always do the lights and plate if teh car is getting bad, because I know I'll pulled for the plate if I don't and I like to see in the dark.

Where I work ALL vehicles whether they belong to the company or not need to have valid tax, insurance and MOT, also all employees cars have to be reasonably clean on the outside as it creates a good impression

So your company has insisted that you put your car through an MOT? If so, then I hope you claimed it on expenses. 

So your company has insisted that you put your car through an MOT? If so, then I hope you claimed it on expenses.

I took that to read that if a private vehicle was used on Company business it had to be "street legal"

That's quite a common stipulation, usually required by the companies Insurers.

I took that to read that if a private vehicle was used on Company business it had to be "street legal"

That's quite a common stipulation, usually required by the companies Insurers.

If using the car for company business ie they pay you mileage they will normally demand proof of business insurance and MOT if applicable as if you are driving while in company business and you are found to be driving a unroadworthy or unissued vehicle the company can be prosecuted along with the driver. Use, cause, permit rules. Same applies to private owners who lend their car to someone who is uninsured etc.

If using the car for company business ie they pay you mileage they will normally demand proof of business insurance and MOT if applicable as if you are driving while in company business and you are found to be driving a unroadworthy or unissued vehicle the company can be prosecuted along with the driver. Use, cause, permit rules. Same applies to private owners who lend their car to someone who is uninsured etc.

Exactly, hence my "street legal" in parenthesis.

However many large organisations carry contingent motor insurance in case business use is not in force on individuals polices - this is more common where only occasional use may happen in a large widespread operation ( Local Authorities typically, NHS trusts and similar)

Depending on how many cops you have in your area it might be worth it. I've gotten done for unreadable plates three times. 22, 25, 43 quid (as of 01/03/14 exchange rates) and honestly it was worth it. I get 6 quid in congestion tax ever day. Just one week and I've saved up to the fine. 

Then again, most police officers in Stockholm assume I'm an unmarked cop car. Just smile and wave, smile and wave...

So your company has insisted that you put your car through an MOT? If so, then I hope you claimed it on expenses. 

 

not my car my mot won't be due until may 2016, we just need to provide proof

A former boss of mine had a BMW 330d estate and sucked dirt onto the back very very quickly. 10 miles down the back roads from his house to the office and it would be caked on the back.

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I will hold my hands up to being pulled for a dirty numberplate. I did clean it and was VERY apologetic though and never done it since. 

I'd suggest reason for a pull for a dirty numberplate is to ensure that the Tax gathering cameras can get a good detail of the VRN.

Oh come on Greatdane you have a 2013 VRS and you "cant be arsed" to clean it and you say its down to work, well i do the same job as you and the same sh1ty long hours but i can still find time to clean my car. 

 

 

My clean Rig.

 

 

 

My clean car.

 

 

Go figure..

It's a well known trick speeders and the criminals use to avoid detection so when they spot you with an unreadable number plate you raise plods suspicions that you fall into 1of these 2 catagories. Annoying as it is to you they have no way of knowing if you're up to no good or not so you get their attention. Easy to understand from their point of view and easy for you to fix.

Good point Ade, and deliberately letting it get dirty is up there with non standard number plate fonts.

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Quite ironic that someone with illeagal plates has a pop at someone for dirty plates

Is that not an irish plate though?

Yep seems to be an optional font in Northern Ireland as LOTS of cars have that style of plate.

Lots of cars in NI may use that font but it doesn't make it legal.

 

NI adheres to the same standards as Great Britain in terms of the font type and size...

 

Northern Ireland:

 

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/motoring/owning-a-vehicle/buying-and-selling-a-vehicle/personalised-reg-and-number-plates/displaying-your-registration-number.htm

 

Great Britain:

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_067666.pdf

 

Both require:

• character height - 79 millimetres
• character width - 50 millimetres (except the figure 1 or letter I)
• character stroke - 14 millimetres
• space between characters - 11 millimetres
• space between groups - 33 millimetres
• top, bottom and side margins - minimum 11 millimetres
• space between vertical lines - 19 millimetres

Edited 8 March, 201412 yr by silver1011

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Edited 8 March, 201412 yr by matt1chelski

We don't give a damn over here, we get away with all sorts   but saying that it nice to share a forum with all the law abiding citizens it so reassuring   

I've displayed my fair share of questionable plates over the years!

Clean or dirty? lol