Liverpool FC Forum

[NiftyNeil]

I came out of work today and when getting into my car, to my horror I saw a fixed penalty notice on my windscreen. It didn't take me long to realise what it was for. My car reg has an "alternative" font to the one that is allowed legally and that is the reason for the penalty - "non conforming registration plate".
I've always anticipated this problem, so I've always carried a set of legit plates in the boot. The intention has always to say that I'd been to a car show at the weekend and forgot to change the plates back blah blah blah, in the hope that the police just make me change them and I get off with it. Giving me the penalty in my absence has somewhat scuppered those plans.
I was fuming at first, that some copper has nothing to do but to trawl car-parks looking for violations of the law. Then it dawned on me, my car wasn't on the road. My car was parked on a car-park, which is privately owned. In effect, my car was off the road and if it is off the road, how can I be breaking the law.
Can anyone, with any legal knowledge tell me where I stand? I have two choices -  on whether to pay the fixed penalty, or to go to court and plead my innocence. Obviously, I'm not going to risk going to court if I've got no leg to stand on.

[7_Kewell]

not a chance in hell i'm afriad.  You would have to prove your plates weren't on the car travelling to the car park.....and in court they would simply need to look up the CCTV of the area to check.

If it goes to court you'll face at least a £500 so i would advise to pay the fine and keep to leagal plates in future becaise the Govenment are clamping down on illegal plates quite hard.

[NiftyNeil]

But surely they can't prosecute just on the assumption that I drove the car there with the illegal plates on. Why don't they assume that I broke the speed limit too and fine me for that? It's the job of the police to catch people breaking the law and prosecute and they only have circumstancial evidence to say that I did.

[7_Kewell]

But surely they can't prosecute just on the assumption that I drove the car there with the illegal plates on. Why don't they assume that I broke the speed limit too and fine me for that? It's the job of the police to catch people breaking the law and prosecute and they only have circumstancial evidence to say that I did.

It’s your choice, but the Government is out to get people who have illegal plates on. Why? Because record numbers are using them to avoid congestion charges, speeding tickets and parking fines. 

If you take this to court and the prosecution has CCTV footage of you driving into the carpark with the illegal plates on you’re going to be f**ked. They will most likely make an example of you and give you a huge fine. I know it’s a pain (no one likes getting a ticket) but the most sensible thing to do is just cough up and let it go.

[LFC2007]

Just pay the fine, and get rid of the plates. It isn't worth the hassle.

[NANNY RED]

How much is the fine and how much are you gonna have to pay for a brief?

I know its guttin having to pay the fine but a brief will cost you a lot more and then if you lose youve got that expence on top id just pay the fine

[Woollyback]

pay the fine and lose the plates. non-standard ones look s*i*e anyway

[7_Kewell]

How much is the fine and how much are you gonna have to pay for a brief?

I know its guttin having to pay the fine but a brief will cost you a lot more and then if you lose youve got that expence on top id just pay the fine

you can represent yourself and not need a brief....but if you lose you have to pay 'court costs' and a much larger fine.

[NiftyNeil]

The fine's £30, it's not that cost that matters, it's the principle.

[7_Kewell]

The fine's £30, it's not that cost that matters, it's the principle.

but you've admitted you were driving around with illegal plates....so it's a "fair cop" 

[NANNY RED]

How much is the fine and how much are you gonna have to pay for a brief?

I know its guttin having to pay the fine but a brief will cost you a lot more and then if you lose youve got that expence on top id just pay the fine

you can represent yourself and not need a brief....but if you lose you have to pay 'court costs' and a much larger fine.

With my big mouth id need my brief other wise id get done for contempt ive got a good one aswell

[Judge]

pay it mate

put it down to experience and dont do it again

[7_Kewell]

How much is the fine and how much are you gonna have to pay for a brief?

I know its guttin having to pay the fine but a brief will cost you a lot more and then if you lose youve got that expence on top id just pay the fine

you can represent yourself and not need a brief....but if you lose you have to pay 'court costs' and a much larger fine.

With my big mouth id need my brief other wise id get done for contempt ive got a good one aswell

[Leonmc0708]

The fine's £30, it's not that cost that matters, it's the principle.

Well then, on principle, stop breaking the law with your look at me in my suped up escort I have a little di.ck car with shi.tty writing for the reg plates, conform to the laws of the roads in this country and pay your fuc.king fine.

[Kharhaz]

I came out of work today and when getting into my car, to my horror I saw a fixed penalty notice on my windscreen. It didn't take me long to realise what it was for. My car reg has an "alternative" font to the one that is allowed legally and that is the reason for the penalty - "non conforming registration plate".
I've always anticipated this problem, so I've always carried a set of legit plates in the boot. The intention has always to say that I'd been to a car show at the weekend and forgot to change the plates back blah blah blah, in the hope that the police just make me change them and I get off with it. Giving me the penalty in my absence has somewhat scuppered those plans.
I was fuming at first, that some copper has nothing to do but to trawl car-parks looking for violations of the law. Then it dawned on me, my car wasn't on the road. My car was parked on a car-park, which is privately owned. In effect, my car was off the road and if it is off the road, how can I be breaking the law.
Can anyone, with any legal knowledge tell me where I stand? I have two choices -  on whether to pay the fixed penalty, or to go to court and plead my innocence. Obviously, I'm not going to risk going to court if I've got no leg to stand on.

An alternative font? As long as it is still readable whats the problem? Appeal mate, on watchdog or something a while back the traffic wardens were dishing out fines left right and and center but when people appealed they were let off and the whole thing was thrown out. As long as its readable so it can be made out and not offensive to anyone I dont see why they should fine you.

Just think in the future, you cant listen to music, you cant talk to anyone mobile phone or not and kids who are rowdy are not allowed to travel in cars. Bloody hell sod climate change thats nothing to what the future holds !