I got asked to pull to the side of the road last night, the copper already had someone pulled over from the ANPR in the car at some traffic lights and his colleague was on the roadside, he smiled, extended his didget and pointed at my car and then the pavement so thought I would stop for a little chat...
He said "lovely car sir, didnt realise they made these before 1973, it looks in amazing condition" "but... if this is a pre 73 car you cant have a 53 plate on it so either your on stolen plates or you have you have an explanation!" I explained that I had forgotten to swap the plate over from being at a show, but then showed him I had the legit plate in the boot to swap it over as soon as I got home and got some double sided tape....
I had a chat with him about the law on plates and he wasnt aware of any changes and as far as he was concerened it was a £30 fine no points. I asked him about the July the 1st (it wasnt june the 1st as previously written) and he had no idea if there was a planned change in the law due to happen.... But then he said that the laws didnt get filtered down straight away and he may have missed an email or 10 regarding such changes....
I also asked him about smaller plates and ones that were spaced incorectly.... he said "I wish people that did it would stop dicking about and wasting our time, its a number plate and most of them look crap when they are trying to make a name that isnt really there or is only relevant to the person driving the car... If its a good vanity plate that costs a fair few £ cause you dont have to space it then fair enough, if your trying to make a name out of some letters and numbers and you need to space them and use a coloured bolt then dont bother as you will get pulled at somepoint and you will be wasting our time when we should be out policing rather than having to give people a slap on the wrist"
There are loads of reasons why and one of the main reasons is eye witnesses being able to identify cars after accidents and hit and runs... if they cant read the plate then what chance have the got of getting the driver?...
The only reason I have a black and silver plate is cause it suits the car, I cant understand it as the ANPR's and other devices can pick up the plate.... But for now on the roads I will be going back to the normal ones for day to day driving!! Just got to get the bracket sorted now so I dont have to use tape!