Legality of custom sizing on personalised plates

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Legality of custom sizing on personalised plates

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Biddle Corp

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#2646218 2-Feb-2021 22:13

Linux:
If you modify a number plate in anyway then you are asking for a ticket

Like the idiots that load bikes on the back of their vehicles and cover up the number plate and think it is perfectly OK, Had an argument with an idiot a few weeks back about this and I pointed out that you are not allowed to cover the number plate up, Response was never been an issue before

Lots of towbars cover the number plate even if you don't have anything on it - such as Mazda 3's for about the part 3ish years.

Linux

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#2646222 2-Feb-2021 22:26

sbiddle:
Linux:

If you modify a number plate in anyway then you are asking for a ticket

Like the idiots that load bikes on the back of their vehicles and cover up the number plate and think it is perfectly OK, Had an argument with an idiot a few weeks back about this and I pointed out that you are not allowed to cover the number plate up, Response was never been an issue before

Lots of towbars cover the number plate even if you don't have anything on it - such as Mazda 3's for about the part 3ish years.

This is why the tow ball should be removed so the number plate is exposed

Mehrts

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#2646225 2-Feb-2021 22:38

Linux:

This is why the tow ball should be removed so the number plate is exposed

That's a bit pedantic isn't it?

From a legal standing, sure, the plate should be visible. But in practice, honestly who's going to remove the towball whenever they're not using it just to make the number plate more readable?

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#2646239 2-Feb-2021 23:17

Mehrts:
Linux:

This is why the tow ball should be removed so the number plate is exposed

That's a bit pedantic isn't it?

From a legal standing, sure, the plate should be visible. But in practice, honestly who's going to remove the towball whenever they're not using it just to make the number plate more readable?

Not pedantic it's the law and if the tow ball covers any part of number plate its $199 fine and demerit points

That is why the tow ball is removable

lxsw20

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#2646241 2-Feb-2021 23:40

No one is going to do that, and it's a pedantic cop having a bloody slow day if they fine you for it.

sbiddle

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#2646258 3-Feb-2021 07:25

Linux:

sbiddle:

Lots of towbars cover the number plate even if you don't have anything on it - such as Mazda 3's for about the part 3ish years.

This is why the tow ball should be removed so the number plate is exposed

What a crazy idea - removing a factory fitted towball off a towbar every time you're not using it.

The Mazda's aren't the only vehicle like this (the photo below is the 2003 - 2009 Mazda3 from a quick Google search). There are a lot of vehicles where a towbar covers the plate. Up until probably 4-5 years ago the Police used to have a lot of their vehicles that had obscured plates due to them fitting bull bars to some vehicles. So while they were busy getting grumpy in the media about the issue they had plenty of their own vehicles that weren't compliant.

Maybe the Police and NZTA should be taking the issue up with vehicle manufacturers? I'm sure they'll be told where to go though..

MikeB4

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#2646262 3-Feb-2021 07:48

Remember folks NZTA and the NZ Police do not make the Law. They are required by Parliament to enforce the Law. Drivers are required to adhere to the law when driving on public roads and NZTA provides at small cost supplementary number plates to facilitate this.

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mdooher

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#2646264 3-Feb-2021 08:07

I have those plates from plates.com on both of my euro cars. One is "personalised" and one isn't, its just a copy of the real one. I have had them for years.

In the end it comes down to money. I'm not paying Kiwi plates an exorbitant fee to make me a euro sized plate to fit my car.

Can't see what the problem is, they are reflective and machine readable. So realistically the only reason for the govt to ban them is so they can get an income by selling the rights to Kiwiplaets.

Never been commented on by any Police I have had any dealing with. Pretty sure they have better things to do than police a non problem

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#2646265 3-Feb-2021 08:18

Linux:
This is why the tow ball should be removed so the number plate is exposed

I'd suggest that the amount of people who own a Mazda 3 and who also own a spanner and pair of stilson's large enough to remove their tow ball is going to incredibly small. Not to mention the fact that most people would keep reusing the spring washer, thus making a trival problem into a life-threatening one...

mdooher

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#2646269 3-Feb-2021 08:36

Ge0rge:
Linux:

This is why the tow ball should be removed so the number plate is exposed

I'd suggest that the amount of people who own a Mazda 3 and who also own a spanner and pair of stilson's large enough to remove their tow ball is going to incredibly small. Not to mention the fact that most people would keep reusing the spring washer, thus making a trival problem into a life-threatening one...

Yep, the ball is only removable so you can change the size, and as for having a spanner that big.. use a shifting spanner so it can slip off and smack you in the face....experience

Matthew

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#2646288 3-Feb-2021 09:02

If you are fitting a tow bar on a vehicle with a low mounted registration plate fit one of these, a removable tow bar....

BlinkyBill

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#2646306 3-Feb-2021 09:15

If it’s up to Police to enforce the law, why not let the Police enforce the law, instead of all the sanctimonious comments, from several people on here?

wellygary

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#2646310 3-Feb-2021 09:22

dfnt:

Mehrts:

The Euro plates are totally legal if purchased through the approved suppliers.

I've seen some cases where the "plates" seem to be nothing more than a sticker, but I just thought they were still legal options for exotic cases where a standard plate wouldn't physically fit e.g. some kit cars & sports cars have no specified area for a plate.

Sticker plates are not legal either

That's not quite true, sticker plates are legal, its just that there are no current licensed providers of them, ( I Think the old Personalised Plates company who used to have the PP contract did them, but the new one doesn't)

Land Transport (Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2011

33 Form of ordinary plates

(6) Despite subclause (5), an ordinary plate to be fixed to the front of a motor vehicle may be in the form of an adhesive label."

BlinkyBill

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#2646320 3-Feb-2021 09:33

I have shares in a car that has the plates painted on, or possibly stickers of arranged individual letters/numbers under a clear coat. The car IS over 20 years old, but it is currently registered, and driven.

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#2646327 3-Feb-2021 09:46

The NZTA seem to have dropped stick on plates.
"Waka Kotahi is no longer actively pursuing an adhesive plate product. We were unable to find a suitable product that the manufacturer would guarantee and that could be provided at a reasonable price."

Now that the Police can't chase the usual suspects they could become more interested in being able to identify cars. It might just be subject to the usual attitude test.

Gratuitous spanner pic

Click to see full size

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