Silver on black number plates

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 16:36
Silver on black number plates - RB
It may be me, and apols if you've already discussed this, but in the last couple of weeks in particular, I've seen a surprising number of cars using what I assume are illegal number plates - silver letters/numbers on a black background. All the cars are well younger than 1973 vintage(!) and are UK numbers.

Yesterday, whilst stuck for far too long on Leicester inner ring road, I saw at least half a dozen.

They have been a mixed bunch - a few yoofs in their Corsas and Saxos, but also older people in very young Mercs, BMWs et al. Also tended to be silver or black paint to match the plates.

Do they think that cameras etc won't pick them up, I wonder?!
I can understand why they fit them from an asthetic point of view, but you would think that they are making themselves stand out a tad too much.

Oh, silly me, we don't have traffic police to have a quiet word, do we.

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Wed 8 Aug 2007 16:49
Silver on black number plates - local yokel
While not disputing the legalities, what exactly is the benefit of the reflective plates, and how many lives/serious accidents have been saved by them?
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 18:46
Silver on black number plates - Ruperts Trooper
How can you possibly analyse the number of accidents which HAVEN'T happened because of this, or any other, safety feature?
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 19:01
Silver on black number plates - Pugugly {P}
The law is quite clear. Any car first registered since March (?) 1973 should have reflective plates.
ANPR will get some.
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 19:03
Silver on black number plates - Altea Ego
That's the trouble. ANPR wont get them.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 19:05
Silver on black number plates - Pugugly {P}
There will be a "misread" which will cause a pull, remember that the MK1 eyeball is also involved in real time with mobile ANPR
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 19:10
Silver on black number plates - Westpig
there are increasingly nowadays remote ANPR cameras, where the info goes through to a control room............the minor stuff gets ignored and the major stuff will be circulated via radio

this depends upon the control room staff being not too snowed under to notice the ANPR info...and... there being a car on patrol available to deal......which a lot of the time there isn't
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 20:47
Silver on black number plates - John S
PU

I believe black and white plates are legal on cars actually made before January 1973. Changed a while back to coincide with the 'Historic vehicle/zero road tax' date. So, historic vehicle status = black and white plates legal.

JS
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Wed 8 Aug 2007 21:08
Silver on black number plates - Dwight Van Driver
<<<<<<<< >>>>>>

You would be surprised. Before they were made mandatory I attended a nighttime demo at an ex WWII drome/now racing circuit put on by 3M's

Parked vehicles with reflective plates stood out far earlier when approaching at speed far earlier than the black and whites. As a safety aid they were superior.

dvd
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