Retro number plates

[Ian]

I've seen many scoots that are much newer than 1973 with the old style black background and the white, grey or silver lettering.Are these legal and basically do people in the powers that be turn a blind eye, anyone know ?

[jackthekipper]

iv'e got one on my PX ian, but certainly not legal, the black & yella one is underneath the black & silver one,just in case i ever get stopped. had it on for 9 years , never been pulled & my MOT man passes it every year, but one day i just might meet a nasty cop and ? who knows

[skrappey]

Anything pre 1990 over here. (gloat mode on)

[Devo McDuff]

If you are pulled, chances are you will get away with having to put a legal one on and have a bike MOT garage verify it as such (about a tenner's worth). Though there is always the possibility of a nasty fine.

Extra strong velcro means I can put my legal on in no time at all for journeys outside Manchester.

[Spence]

What the guys have said is correct Ian. Most bobbies can't be arsed to pull you over for it, but that doesn't make them legal. Try riding into north Wales with one to find out.

[sirscootalot]

my mate got done in chester, fined, can't remember how much but copper was a real mr nasty and checked the whole scoot out luckily everything else was alright.

[mark]

Ive wondered about black and white plates do they get picked up by automatic number plate recognition systems that the cops have now?
If my scoot ever got nicked i would like to think it would be recognisable by its plate , each to their own but I dont see the point

[jetex]

Number plates were part of the m.o.t test, but were withdrawn until certain points have been clarified, then they will be re-introduced. Any illegal or mis-spaced plates will then fail the m.o.t. A number plate must have the details of who made it on the pate, along with a BSAU number. I know of a girl who has been stopped twice with her mis-spaced plate, and has been given a £30 fixed penalty fine on each occasion. If you have an illegal plate, it's an invitation to the Police to stop you, and they can then give you and your scoot a good going over.

[skrappey]

I remember, about a week after they let us take the front number plate off, I was coasting down to my house at night. The cops saw me and followed me down the hill to my house. They asked why my lights weren't on, I explained I had no battery and didn't want to disturb the neighbours. One was a scooterist himself and we chatted about Lammys and Vespas for a bit until they went on their way, Bloody good job they didn't want to see the MOT or insurance!, or my licence for that matter.

[Spence]

I've poached this from the editorial of this month's Scootering, but I'm sure Andy won't mind, him being a thoroughly decent chap and all.

Currently it is illegal to fit a number plate to a vehicle that does not conform to UK regs regarding size, colour, font and letter spacing, and the number plate must be supplied by an identifiable source.

From 1 November 2008 it will also become an offence to supply number plates that do not comply with the Display of Registration Marks Regulations 2001, with a maximum penalty of £2500 for anyone caught making one. This new offence will apply throughout the UK and applies only to plates that display a VRM issued by the DVLA.

For example it will still be possible to supply dealers with plates showing the model of a new vehicle for use in a showroom. It will be illegal however to supply plates with the VRM mis-spaced to make it look like the name of an individual, in a non-standard font or colour or with a slogan or message printed on them.

I suggest that this will mean registration plate suppliers will start to get much more strict about checking the correct details of all vehicles before they risk a fine by manufacturing and selling a plate that may be illegal.