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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: unlucky mark mv6 on 11 May 2009, 14:33:44

Title: black plates
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 11 May 2009, 14:33:44
Is it illegal to have black number plates with chrome lettering.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 14:35:37
yes, on modern cars
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: mantahatch on 11 May 2009, 14:36:50
Yes only legal on pre 1st August 1973 iirc.

Mike

P.S. I belive some cars registered after the above date have successfully proven they where manufactured before this date and so can display them.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 11 May 2009, 14:43:08
What a backward world we live in,the point is weather the car is one year old or thirty years old,the plod still couldent read the plates.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 15:17:27
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What a backward world we live in,the point is weather the car is one year old or thirty years old,the plod still couldent read the plates.
Rules change, but cannot always apply rule to existing vehicles.

For instance, cars sold after 1986 have to have rear seat belts.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Welung666 on 11 May 2009, 15:41:51
As a bonus In addition the ANPR systems can't read the pressed aluminium plates very well.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: KillerWatt on 11 May 2009, 16:53:10
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As a bonus In addition the ANPR systems can't read the pressed aluminium plates very well.
If ANPR can't read your plate for any reason, it alerts the operator which results in a tug anyway.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Welung666 on 11 May 2009, 18:32:07
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As a bonus In addition the ANPR systems can't read the pressed aluminium plates very well.
If ANPR can't read your plate for any reason, it alerts the operator which results in a tug anyway.

Not in a 1963 Morris Minor it doesn't ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 May 2009, 18:49:50
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Yes only legal on pre 1st August 1973 iirc.

Mike

P.S. I belive some cars registered after the above date have successfully proven they where manufactured before this date and so can display them.

I took delivery of my first company car, a Ford Escort in red in August 1972, and it was equipped with black and white number plates.  I hated them on such a modern car, quickly had them changed to the then 'brand new' continental white, front, and yellow rear, reflective plates.  Much better!! 8-) 8-) :D :D ;)
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 11 May 2009, 19:00:56
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......
I took delivery of my first company car, a Ford Escort in red in August 1972, and it was equipped with black and white number plates.  I hated them on such a modern car, quickly had them changed to the then 'brand new' continental white, front, and yellow rear, reflective plates.  Much better!! 8-) 8-) :D :D ;)

How things change!  ;) ;)
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 11 May 2009, 19:16:45
Same as if you took your car for an mot with the black plates on they would fail it,and we all think the mot is about safety,so how would a different colour plate make a car unsafe for the road.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 May 2009, 19:24:54
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Same as if you took your car for an mot with the black plates on they would fail it,and we all think the mot is about safety,so how would a different colour plate make a car unsafe for the road.

Because they are unreflective, and the very reason why continental plates were introduced in the first place! 8-) 8-) 8-)
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 11 May 2009, 19:27:53
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Because they are unreflective, and the very reason why continental plates were introduced in the first place! 8-) 8-) 8-)

Are mainland Continents number plates reflective? I'm not sure they all are ......  :-/
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 May 2009, 19:29:28
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Because they are unreflective, and the very reason why continental plates were introduced in the first place! 8-) 8-) 8-)

Are mainland Continents number plates reflective? I'm not sure they all are ......  :-/


I believe they have always been so when I have been driving in Europe. ;)
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: waspy on 11 May 2009, 19:31:43
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As a bonus In addition the ANPR systems can't read the pressed aluminium plates very well.
If ANPR can't read your plate for any reason, it alerts the operator which results in a tug anyway.


Not in a 1963 Morris Minor it doesn't ;D ;D ;D


Ready when the operator is :D :D :P :P
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 11 May 2009, 19:35:45
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Because they are unreflective, and the very reason why continental plates were introduced in the first place! 8-) 8-) 8-)

Are mainland Continents number plates reflective? I'm not sure they all are ......  :-/


I believe they have always been so when I have been driving in Europe. ;)

They're not all like ours then ......Germany's are pressed aren't they, and have some kind of road tax/insurance sticker in the middle.  :-/
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 May 2009, 19:41:24
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Because they are unreflective, and the very reason why continental plates were introduced in the first place! 8-) 8-) 8-)

Are mainland Continents number plates reflective? I'm not sure they all are ......  :-/


I believe they have always been so when I have been driving in Europe. ;)

They're not all like ours then ......Germany's are pressed aren't they, and have some kind of road tax/insurance sticker in the middle.  :-/

True!  I think you could be right about that one, which may not be reflective come to think about it! ::) ::)

Bloody Germans have to be different!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: immx on 11 May 2009, 20:25:19
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/immx/omega/IMG_9999.jpg)

 [smiley=happy.gif] :-X
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 11 May 2009, 20:32:00
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(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/immx/omega/IMG_9999.jpg)

 [smiley=happy.gif] :-X


It does look class in that form! :y :y
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: waspy on 11 May 2009, 20:56:55
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(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/immx/omega/IMG_9999.jpg)

 [smiley=happy.gif] :-X

Naughty, but nice 8-) 8-) 8-) I think they'd look good on mine, as it's black, but i don't wanna give them an excuse >:(
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Vamps on 11 May 2009, 21:01:40
Chatting to a Mini owner at a car show, a couple of years ago. He had 'Retrod' an L reg 1993 Mini and put on black/silver plates and regularly drove it on those plates. He said that most people look at it, see it's 60' styling and L reg and think no more of it, including many Police. Said he changed them for MOT.  Don't think it is much of an offence and he was prepared to take the chance.
The car looked really good............ :y :y :y
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Turk on 12 May 2009, 01:39:04
I have a black plate on my '91 Harley and the pipes are Screamin' Eagle II's. Plod hear me coming from a few hundred yards away.

They look up, see it's not a Plastic Fantastic ridden by a Power Ranger (Oh dear..wait 'til Chrisgixer read this ;D) and carry on what they were doing.

Not been pulled in the 3 years I've had it :y  
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: mantahatch on 12 May 2009, 07:36:25
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I have a black plate on my '91 Harley and the pipes are Screamin' Eagle II's. Plod hear me coming from a few hundred yards away.

They look up, see it's not a Plastic Fantastic ridden by a Power Ranger (Oh dear..wait 'til Chrisgixer read this ;D) and carry on what they were doing.

Not been pulled in the 3 years I've had it :y  

Oh dear Turk, fancy giving you age away so easily, we all no in the UK you have to be over 65 to ride a Harley  ;D

Certainly round are way they seam to be ridded by the 'mid life crisis' brigade.

Mike

Sorry, only joking  ;D
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: NaughtyNigel on 12 May 2009, 09:57:02
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I have a black plate on my '91 Harley and the pipes are Screamin' Eagle II's. Plod hear me coming from a few hundred yards away.

They look up, see it's not a Plastic Fantastic ridden by a Power Ranger (Oh dear..wait 'til Chrisgixer read this ;D) and carry on what they were doing.

Not been pulled in the 3 years I've had it :y  

Oh dear Turk, fancy giving you age away so easily, we all no in the UK you have to be over 65 to ride a Harley  ;D

Certainly round are way they seam to be ridded by the 'mid life crisis' brigade.

Mike

Sorry, only joking  ;D

I suppose there's not much danger of being nicked for speeding on a Harley.  ;)  ;D

NN
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Omega man 2 on 12 May 2009, 09:58:54
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(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/immx/omega/IMG_9999.jpg)

 [smiley=happy.gif] :-X

Nice :y
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2009, 10:01:23
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(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/immx/omega/IMG_9999.jpg)

 [smiley=happy.gif] :-X

It does look good, but might aswell read Police stop me ...... a bit like postage stamp size number plates on bikes. Why give such an obvious reason to be pulled over?  :-/
You need a detachable towbar too!  :y  :y  :y  :y
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 12 May 2009, 10:19:18
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Same as if you took your car for an mot with the black plates on they would fail it,and we all think the mot is about safety,so how would a different colour plate make a car unsafe for the road.

Because they are unreflective, and the very reason why continental plates were introduced in the first place! 8-) 8-) 8-)
Yes but the numbers are reflective.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: hotel21 on 12 May 2009, 10:29:11
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Same as if you took your car for an mot with the black plates on they would fail it,and we all think the mot is about safety,so how would a different colour plate make a car unsafe for the road.

Because they are unreflective, and the very reason why continental plates were introduced in the first place! 8-) 8-) 8-)
Yes but the numbers are reflective.

You mean the silver bit?  They shine a bit but do not require to meet the legal standard for yellow/white plates for post 01/01/1973 reg vehicles.  They may, but not a requirement.

Are they inscribed with the BSAU 143(a) kitemark?  
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 12 May 2009, 10:52:42
Havent had any yet mate,just thought i would ask for.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Iain on 12 May 2009, 11:53:33
Are the not legal if they are age related?
By that i mean if the registration is old enough e.g.ABC 123 you can legally run with the black plates?

What would you do if you had a classic that was road legal,say a Rilely or an Austin that would have had black plates?
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2009, 11:55:00
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Are the not legal if they are age related?
By that i mean if the registration is old enough e.g.ABC 123 you can legally run with the black plates?

What would you do if you had a classic that was road legal,say a Rilely or an Austin that would have had black plates?

It's the vehicle that's age related .... not the plate.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Iain on 12 May 2009, 12:07:35
Ok,i wasn't sure,i had a Monza once thats plate was YRL 96C, and was talking to someone who said i could use black plates,never did it though just remember having the conversation....was at a classic car show,the guy was a bit of a 'Norman'! with his tweed jacket complete with leather elbow patches!! ;D
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: hotel21 on 12 May 2009, 17:42:57
If vehicle was reg before 1/1/73 plates can be either black or yellow/white.  If from that date onwards only yellow/white is valid. And must carry the BS number and kitemark.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2009, 18:15:03
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If vehicle was reg before 1/1/73 plates can be either black or yellow/white.  If from that date onwards only yellow/white is valid. And must carry the BS number and kitemark.

It's manufactured before 73, there was an article in Practical Classics last month. They had an example of a Routemaster bus that was on a T plate (79?) that legally had silver/white on black plates.
I think that the rulings might have changed a little when 'historic' road tax was introduced.
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: hotel21 on 12 May 2009, 18:25:42
Cant lay my hands on the relevant guff at the moment but something lurking in the dim and distant grey cells that PCV's (then PSV's) were exempt as they were internally illuminated and not later screw on plates, if you follow....   :y
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: hotel21 on 12 May 2009, 18:38:54
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If vehicle was reg before 1/1/73 plates can be either black or yellow/white.  If from that date onwards only yellow/white is valid. And must carry the BS number and kitemark.

It's manufactured before 73, there was an article in Practical Classics last month. They had an example of a Routemaster bus that was on a T plate (79?) that legally had silver/white on black plates.
I think that the rulings might have changed a little when 'historic' road tax was introduced.

Found something relevant...

Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001
Reg 18.

Saving for vehicles constructed before 1st January 1973
For the purposes of these Regulations a vehicle which was first registered on or after 1st January 1973 shall be treated as if it was first registered before that date if—
(a)      it is an exempt vehicle for the purposes of paragraph 1A(1) of Schedule 2 to the Act, or
(b)      not being such a vehicle, it was constructed before 1st January 1973.


The (b) subsection covers your post 1973 Routemaster and similar.  Still think there was something regarding black/silver plates for buses after 1973 though....  Must keep looking!   ;D
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2009, 18:45:21
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If vehicle was reg before 1/1/73 plates can be either black or yellow/white.  If from that date onwards only yellow/white is valid. And must carry the BS number and kitemark.

It's manufactured before 73, there was an article in Practical Classics last month. They had an example of a Routemaster bus that was on a T plate (79?) that legally had silver/white on black plates.
I think that the rulings might have changed a little when 'historic' road tax was introduced.

Found something relevant...

Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001
Reg 18.

Saving for vehicles constructed before 1st January 1973
For the purposes of these Regulations a vehicle which was first registered on or after 1st January 1973 shall be treated as if it was first registered before that date if—
(a)      it is an exempt vehicle for the purposes of paragraph 1A(1) of Schedule 2 to the Act, or
(b)      not being such a vehicle, it was constructed before 1st January 1973.


The (b) subsection covers your post 1973 Routemaster and similar.  Still think there was something regarding black/silver plates for buses after 1973 though....  Must keep looking!   ;D


Didn't know buses were differenter to cars! .....  :-? Still manufatured though .......
I'll find the mag when I get 'wom' ........ (Wiganese for home  ;)  :y)
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2009, 18:56:42
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v796.pdf


It mentions manufactured & contructed before 73 a couple of times.  :y
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: mantagte on 12 May 2009, 19:13:37
if you get stopped  by a by the book police officer its gonna cost you £30 or £40 cant remember which
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Turk on 12 May 2009, 19:22:19
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I have a black plate on my '91 Harley and the pipes are Screamin' Eagle II's. Plod hear me coming from a few hundred yards away.

They look up, see it's not a Plastic Fantastic ridden by a Power Ranger (Oh dear..wait 'til Chrisgixer read this ;D) and carry on what they were doing.

Not been pulled in the 3 years I've had it :y  

Oh dear Turk, fancy giving you age away so easily, we all no in the UK you have to be over 65 to ride a Harley  ;D

Certainly round are way they seam to be ridded by the 'mid life crisis' brigade.

Mike

Sorry, only joking  ;D

I suppose there's not much danger of being nicked for speeding on a Harley.  ;)  ;D

NN

Always had the Plastic Fantastics but got tired of getting home on a Sunday evening and looking back at any "close calls" that day and thinking time to wise up.  ::)

Having said that, with the 1200cc conversion, N4 cams and the SE race ignition module, the old Hardly-Movinson hits 60mph in under 4 seconds and pulls solidly to 130mph at wich point I decided to call it a day...legs stuck out in front and hanging onto the bars as if my life depends on it (hmm...which it does actually  ::)) is not an ideal land speed record position.
Have to admit, when I took it for the 1st test ride I did think, "What the heck am I doing on this noisy vibrating piece of sh*t ?" but there's just something about them, within 10 mins I was converted.
Anyone need any ploughing done ?  ;D  
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2009, 19:22:52
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if you get stopped  by a by the book police officer its gonna cost you £30 or £40 cant remember which

That's true of any number plate that's not correctly spaced. Bloke at work escaped the fine because he had the old - correctly spaced plates - in the boot. It was 'suggested' that he fitted them when he got home .......  "Yes officer" ........ was the reply!
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2009, 19:24:48
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legs stuck out in front and hanging onto the bars as if my life depends on it ....... is not an ideal land speed record position. ........  

 ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: immx on 12 May 2009, 20:55:47
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Quote
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/immx/omega/IMG_9999.jpg)

 [smiley=happy.gif] :-X

It does look good, but might aswell read Police stop me ...... a bit like postage stamp size number plates on bikes. Why give such an obvious reason to be pulled over?  :-/
You need a detachable towbar too!  :y  :y  :y  :y

The towbar came on the car so I thought the cover was the best way to make it look better!  ;)

As for the plates, I've only been pulled on them once (touch wood!) when I had them on my lexus and I offered to chenge them there and then at the roadside for the std one that are kept in the boot, so I got away with it.

To be honest the are fairly clear and easy to read compaired to some care I see around here............................don't forget I am from Essex!!!! ;D
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Vamps on 12 May 2009, 21:47:23
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If vehicle was reg before 1/1/73 plates can be either black or yellow/white.  If from that date onwards only yellow/white is valid. And must carry the BS number and kitemark.

It's manufactured before 73, there was an article in Practical Classics last month. They had an example of a Routemaster bus that was on a T plate (79?) that legally had silver/white on black plates.
I think that the rulings might have changed a little when 'historic' road tax was introduced.

Must have a look, not read it yet ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: black plates
Post by: Danny on 16 May 2009, 18:39:09
Looks like i need to take my german plates off my bora then! especially since they're both white!