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Front Number Plate, who's NOT running one?

FZP

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Joined
18 Jan 2015
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5,847
just a quick question. At some point in the new year, I'll be getting the front end addressed for the stone chips. I've noticed that the majority of 488 owners seem to be going nude on the front end in relation to a number plate.
I find the front number plate an eyesore on the 911 and would be interested to hear from those who've ditched it. Do you get much harassment from BIB?
I find it a double standard that motorbikes don't need a front plate so why should I?
 
I had mine removed when I had the front end resprayed 15 months ago. Ive done about 8000 miles since (half in UK & half in Europe) and have never been pulled by the fuzz.
 

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Isnt it an MOT requirement tho?
 
rabbitstew said:
Isnt it an MOT requirement tho?

Yep, I have a front plate that lives in the frunk that is stuck on for MOT's.

I'm sure at some point it will come in handy when I do get stopped by the fuzz and explain that it fell off earlier in the day when I scraped a curb!
 
I have noticed this is definitely a "thing" presently, couldn't begin to count the number of cars I see on a regular basis in Glasgow and Edinburgh that are not sporting a front plate.

It is most definitely a legal as well as MOT requirement though, so surely it is likely to cause the owner all sorts of grief if stopped by the Police or involved in an accident. Insurance companies could potentially claim that the vehicle was not road legal etc etc or start to look a lot harder at the car in question for any other undeclared modifications.

I had the misfortune, last year, to meet a certain P.C. Shiny Buttons in his stealth, unmarked BMW.
I was driving our Volvo T5 which has a short (5 character) plate that is legal to the mm.
I saw him double take my car as he waited to join the roundabout I was on, and sure enough a mile or so along the road he "de-cloaked and gave the benefit of lights and sirens.
Now as I had already spotted him I was being very well behaved, as in fact I had been when he first saw me, so I was more than a touch surprised to get the full treatment.
Anyway we met on the hard shoulder and he went through the usual "do you know why I stopped you"dance. Unusually, his passenger had accompanied him, rather than sitting in the car watching.

When I replied that I had no idea he guided me to the front of the car and pointed out my number plate. His take was that the plate was too small to be legal and the spacing between the digits was also too small.

I always have my plates made by a local number plate specialist, who have supplied the trade for decades, and they make the plates exactly to legal specification, so I felt very certain that the plates were perfect, doesn't stop you feeling a bit nervous at the roadside though :?

To my utter surprise, he produced a small flexible ruler, like you might get in a Filofax, and began measuring every gap. Side edge, top edge, bottom edge, character to character in minute detail.
As he was doing so his colleague caught my eye and she rolled her eyes and shrugged in what I took to be an apology for her partner.

Finally, after an Olympic bout of measuring he moved to the rear of the car and gave the rear plate the full and lengthy benefit of his Mark 1 Eyeball before finally declaring himself content and sending me on my merry way.

Needless to say I am at a loss every time I see a plateless vehicle but it certainly seems, to me, to be just begging for trouble.
 
Nearly every 'exotic' car in Alderley Edge has no front plate, or it's mis-sized/spaced :roll:

Drive sensibly and I think a blind eye is turned as the police have more important things to do with limited resources. Although there is always the 'anorak' exception as above.

:hand: Drive like a turd and I'd explore whether BE11 END is still available :thumb:
 
peterzoom said:
I have noticed this is definitely a "thing" presently, couldn't begin to count the number of cars I see on a regular basis in Glasgow and Edinburgh that are not sporting a front plate.

It is most definitely a legal as well as MOT requirement though, so surely it is likely to cause the owner all sorts of grief if stopped by the Police or involved in an accident. Insurance companies could potentially claim that the vehicle was not road legal etc etc or start to look a lot harder at the car in question for any other undeclared modifications.

I had the misfortune, last year, to meet a certain P.C. Shiny Buttons in his stealth, unmarked BMW.
I was driving our Volvo T5 which has a short (5 character) plate that is legal to the mm.
I saw him double take my car as he waited to join the roundabout I was on, and sure enough a mile or so along the road he "de-cloaked and gave the benefit of lights and sirens.
Now as I had already spotted him I was being very well behaved, as in fact I had been when he first saw me, so I was more than a touch surprised to get the full treatment.
Anyway we met on the hard shoulder and he went through the usual "do you know why I stopped you"dance. Unusually, his passenger had accompanied him, rather than sitting in the car watching.

When I replied that I had no idea he guided me to the front of the car and pointed out my number plate. His take was that the plate was too small to be legal and the spacing between the digits was also too small.

I always have my plates made by a local number pate specialist, who have supplied the trade for decades, and they make the plates exactly to legal specification, so I felt very certain that the plates were perfect, doesn't stop you feeling a bit nervous at the roadside though :?

To my utter surprise, he produced a small flexible ruler, like you might get in a Filofax, and began measuring every gap. Side edge, top edge, bottom edge, character to character in minute detail.
As he was doing so his colleague caught my eye and he rolled her eyes and shrugged in what I took to be an apology for her partner.

Finally, after an Olympic bout of measuring he moved to the rear of the car and gave the rear plate the full and lengthy benefit of his Mark 1 Eyeball before finally declaring himself content and sending me on my merry way.

Needless to say I am at a loss every time I see a plateless vehicle but it certainly seems, to me, to be just begging for trouble.

I know a few people that have exotic cars with no front plate and as long as you don't drive like your trousers are on fire the fuzz normally look the other way. If you drive like your trousers are on fire and get caught, you pay the consequences regardless of number plate issues.

Just a point to note, having an illegally spaced number plate is actually a more severe offence than having your front number plate "fall off". The first is intentional where as the latter is an unfortunate occurrence.

If the fuzz had stopped me this day then I suspect they would not have looked the other way.
 

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Love the full Polizei look.

I have just finished reading a book called "The Driver' by a chap called Alexander Roy.

Its largely about real life exploits in the Gumball and Cannonball runs.
It features a BMW M5 Polizei doppleganger used in anger over numerous events.
Quite an entertaining read especially when they recount calling BMW Roadside Assistance from the car during one race.

Richard Rawlings his chum Dennis and folks like Jodie Kidd and many other well known, but perhaps surprising, names pop up throughout the book
 
peterzoom said:
Love the full Polizei look.

I have just finished reading a book called "The Driver' by a chap called Alexander Roy.

Its largely about real life exploits in the Gumball and Cannonball runs.
It features a BMW M5 Polizei doppleganger used in anger over numerous events.
Quite an entertaining read especially when they recount calling BMW Roadside Assistance from the car during one race.

Richard Rawlings his chum Dennis and folks like Jodie Kidd and many other well known, but perhaps surprising, names pop up throughout the book

Very good book that, i read it a number of years back. Theres some very good Polizei in car footage on youtube. The battle of Rome is particularly good. And if you get the chance watch 32 minutes 7 seconds which is the film about the cannonball record he set.

Im hoping to go full antique polizei look on my 997 at some point, but that might not be until next year atm.
 
Cheers, Ill look out for the book.

The fuzz in Holland last year didn't rate the decals, but once they carmed down we were on our way with no fine or jail time!

I have a small group of mates who enjoy cars. over the past 15 years we have been on numerous organised rallies (Cannonball, Pure Rally etc...) but found them all lacking.

Two years ago we decided to just do our own thing, we did 7 countries in 7 days (starting in Amsterdam which was a mistake, to much for the 1st night!) and got as far as Monaco before we came home.

This year we got a bit more ambitious and made it as far as Bosnia (which is an amazing place) before we turned round.

Next year I want to do coast to coast in America but the logistics need looking into.

Anyway, sorry about all this rambling, back on point. 911's look better without a front plate.
 

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Dibble round here would have a field day with your TOO SLOW number plate, one of our group got pulled in a rural village as plods ANPR went off as it couldn't recognise his number, it was a German design, gave him a warning and that was it.
I was always lead to believe you can mess about with the front plate, a bit but the rear is taboo, how does a camera recognise it with all the bolts in?
 
Quite surprised anyone would advocate running without s front plate. There are still plenty of truvelo cameras around for example which photograph from the front, doubt the rozzers are going to let anoyone off either 👍😱
 
It's something that the Californian guys have no need to do and saw some pics and the car looks so much cleaner. Seeing as I need to get the front end cleaned up it made sense to give it a stab.
It's seems in this neck of the woods there appears to be a bit more tolerance for this kind of thing (as Zingari states).
BE11END won't be gracing any vehicle I own anytime soon. Too many people in front of me for that to happen :lol:
 
I can't think of a scenario I would want an AMPR to pick up my number plate?
 
RJW1881 said:
I can't think of a scenario I would want an AMPR to pick up my number plate?

you would do if your car had been nicked and the police were trying to track it!
 

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