had german press plates on my car so switched to english press with the D and european stars badge. never ever got nicked for the german... but today I pulled over in a lay by in the town to pick my missus up from shopping. behind me pulls up a silver 5 series done up to the nuts and out steps what can only be described as a complete f*cking arsehole on a power trip (rozzer) tells me my plates are illegal because of the D badge (even though they are BS marked) and fines me £60 then tells me I can contest it if I want (no point magistrates always side with the filth) he then tells me if i don't change them and he see's me again with them my registration will be revoked and I will have to re-register my vehicle and be charged £300 by DVLA for it! has anyone else heard of this before?

I thought having a D band was technically illegal on English plates?

My mate had the same happen to him, got pulled with some of the dubmeister plain English pressed with all the proper markings. He argued it and carried round an email they sent him so luckily he got off with the fine.

Take it to court I reckon, I'm pretty sure if they've all the proper markings from the manufacturer then you can't get done for it.

Edited 11 October, 201114 yr by deanopolo

Yep, mr police man is right only GB, SCO, WAL ENG are allowed, you are also not allowed anything other than Euro, Sco, Wal or GB flags.

If they are BS marked then you can take it up with the DVLA and maybe shift the blame to the company that supplied them.

He was wrong about the revoke part as this is only done to repeat offenders who adjust there spacings to read other things.

UK Number plate law.....

Number plates must now use one specific, mandatory typeface - a very simple sans serif typeface intended to make the numbers easy to read by both humans and automatic recognition systems, which are increasingly being used by the police and other agencies. All hard-to-read variants, such as multiple stroke and italic fonts, are now prohibited. The one decorative variation still permitted is a 3D effect version of the mandatory typeface.

The size and spacing of number plate characters is specified in the regulations, as follows:

Each character must be 79mm high and 50mm wide (except the number 1 or the letter I). The width of each character stroke must be 14mm. There must be a space of 11mm between characters within the same group, and character groups must be 33mm apart. For the purposes of measurement, each character (again, excepting the number 1 or the letter I), regardless of its shape, is treated as a rectangular block of dimensions 79mm x 50mm

Optionally, number plates may display one of the following national emblems: British Union Flag with “GB”, English Flag (St George Cross) with “ENG”, Scottish Flag (St Andrew Cross) with “SCO”, Welsh Flag (red dragon on green/white field) with “Wales” and “Cymru” or Euro Flag (circle of stars) with “GB”. If the Euro/GB configuration is displayed, then the bearer vehicle need not display a separate “GB” emblem when driving within the EU.

The colours and reflectivity of number plates are also specified in the regulations, and there is a British Standard (BS AU 145d) which describes the physical characteristics of number plates, including: visibility, strength and reflectivity. Front plates must have black characters on a white background, while rear plates must have black characters on a yellow background. The British Standard also requires that a number plate must be marked with the following information: the British Standard Number, the name, trade mark, or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier, the name and postcode of the supplying outlet. A non-reflective border is optional. There may be no other markings or material contained on the number plate.

SUMMARY: What is required and permitted on UK road-legal number plates

Required:

White front plate (to British Standard BS AU 145d)

Yellow rear plate (to British Standard BS AU 145d)

The registration number of the bearer vehicle in the mandatory font (black ‘Charles Wright 2001’)

Spacing of characters and character groups in accordance with the measurements specified in the regulations. Variation is not permitted

Permitted but not required:

3D variation of the mandatory ‘Charles Wright 2001’ font

Coloured, non-reflective border

National emblem: English St George Cross with “ENG” legend, Scottish St Andrew Cross with “SCO” legend, Welsh Dragon with “WALES” and “CYMRU” legend, British Union Flag with “GB” legend) or Euro Stars symbol with “GB” legend.

No additions or variations are permitted. Common illegal variations are:

Fancy or decorative typefaces

Bolts placed in such a way as to alter the appearance of characters

Adjusted spacing between characters or character groups

Altered characters

Additional logos or symbols, such as sporting emblems and religious symbols.

Yep, mr police man is right only GB, SCO, WAL ENG are allowed, you are also not allowed anything other than Euro, Sco, Wal or GB flags.

If they are BS marked then you can take it up with the DVLA and maybe shift the blame to the company that supplied them.

He was wrong about the revoke part as this is only done to repeat offenders who adjust there spacings to read other things.

UK Number plate law.....

Number plates must now use one specific, mandatory typeface - a very simple sans serif typeface intended to make the numbers easy to read by both humans and automatic recognition systems, which are increasingly being used by the police and other agencies. All hard-to-read variants, such as multiple stroke and italic fonts, are now prohibited. The one decorative variation still permitted is a 3D effect version of the mandatory typeface.

The size and spacing of number plate characters is specified in the regulations, as follows:

Each character must be 79mm high and 50mm wide (except the number 1 or the letter I). The width of each character stroke must be 14mm. There must be a space of 11mm between characters within the same group, and character groups must be 33mm apart. For the purposes of measurement, each character (again, excepting the number 1 or the letter I), regardless of its shape, is treated as a rectangular block of dimensions 79mm x 50mm

Optionally, number plates may display one of the following national emblems: British Union Flag with “GB”, English Flag (St George Cross) with “ENG”, Scottish Flag (St Andrew Cross) with “SCO”, Welsh Flag (red dragon on green/white field) with “Wales” and “Cymru” or Euro Flag (circle of stars) with “GB”. If the Euro/GB configuration is displayed, then the bearer vehicle need not display a separate “GB” emblem when driving within the EU.

The colours and reflectivity of number plates are also specified in the regulations, and there is a British Standard (BS AU 145d) which describes the physical characteristics of number plates, including: visibility, strength and reflectivity. Front plates must have black characters on a white background, while rear plates must have black characters on a yellow background. The British Standard also requires that a number plate must be marked with the following information: the British Standard Number, the name, trade mark, or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier, the name and postcode of the supplying outlet. A non-reflective border is optional. There may be no other markings or material contained on the number plate.

SUMMARY: What is required and permitted on UK road-legal number plates

Required:

White front plate (to British Standard BS AU 145d)

Yellow rear plate (to British Standard BS AU 145d)

The registration number of the bearer vehicle in the mandatory font (black ‘Charles Wright 2001’)

Spacing of characters and character groups in accordance with the measurements specified in the regulations. Variation is not permitted

Permitted but not required:

3D variation of the mandatory ‘Charles Wright 2001’ font

Coloured, non-reflective border

National emblem: English St George Cross with “ENG” legend, Scottish St Andrew Cross with “SCO” legend, Welsh Dragon with “WALES” and “CYMRU” legend, British Union Flag with “GB” legend) or Euro Stars symbol with “GB” legend.

No additions or variations are permitted. Common illegal variations are:

Fancy or decorative typefaces

Bolts placed in such a way as to alter the appearance of characters

Adjusted spacing between characters or character groups

Altered characters

Additional logos or symbols, such as sporting emblems and religious symbols.

thanks for your replies and info, great help. next time I'll use my noggin and check legalities! I'm back driving after 8 years off the road... seems a lot has changed!

numberplate laws changed August 08 I think, to crack down on non registered companies making it easy for cloned plates to be made.

but if these BS marked ones were made after that date then the DVLA will comedown heavily on the supplier.

You may of thought that the copper was on a power trip but he's gone fairly easy on you cause he could of given you points as well. This is some thing to bare in mind if you do decide to take it to court because they may rule that you were in the wrong and give you points and court costs.

You may of thought that the copper was on a power trip but he's gone fairly easy on you cause he could of given you points as well. This is some thing to bare in mind if you do decide to take it to court because they may rule that you were in the wrong and give you points and court costs.

You may of thought that the copper was on a power trip but he's gone fairly easy on you cause he could of given you points as well. This is some thing to bare in mind if you do decide to take it to court because they may rule that you were in the wrong and give you points and court costs.

That's true, but if they're bs marked then surely the blame's on the company that supplied the plates?

you got done for breaking the law....shocker?

you got done for breaking the law....shocker?

^ this

i love topics which are along the lines of "i did something illegal to my car and got fine/points/ban for it WTF!!!!!!!1111oneone"

Locked before it turns into a possible slagging match.

Guy understands what he's done wrong.