i cut my plates. i have been pulled over twice since registering the car and they don't even look twice at the number plate as you can read it quite clearly. one of the times i got pulled over they did a full roadworthy on me. lucky for me i had it road worthied about a month before. i just went at my plate with an angle grinder. heaps of sparks and heaps of fun.
Patrick, your number plate seems only 5 characters wide, and as you state has good visibility from 45 degrees. With mine, the first letter and last number are very close to the edge of the plate. The photos below are from one metre back and one metre either side of the car (hence at 45 degrees). You can see that letters on the plate are "obscured". I have also spoken to the modification section of Queensland Transport, and made enquiries as to display an "accessory" plate on the car and they say "NO" to that too. "Accessory" plates are those ones that are on wheelchair and bicycle carriers etc. I'm going to mount the plates on wodden blocks so I can bring them forward a bit .
Don't cop it.... ...fight it. I remember when I first fitted my plates I rang the Dept of Transport and told them their plates didn't fit. they said I can purchase plates that will fit for nearly $300.00 BUT... the thing is my Z was complied and certified to standards and it's not my responsibilty to pay extra for US style personilised plates. I'd fight it, and even go to prison! *shrugs* and of course ring Ray Martin. No way I'd be paying that ridiculous fine.
Re: Don't cop it.... Trouble is, my rar bar is an aftermarket (veilside) bar fitted after compliance and roadworthy The standard plates did not fit the OEM bar either. I will speak to my local member as it is legislaton, and that is the only way to really get something like that changed.
Good point... ...but mine's stock. And ten mil on each side is bent to fit. With a stock bumper I don't think they can do anything, car was cerified and there is hundreds if not thousands of cars exactly the same on Australian roads. Wonder why piglets get a bad name hey? Highway Patrol really are the worse.
Trouble is though >> 5 number/digited plates, if there like NSW one's, are still the same length.:thumbsdown: I looked at that option before ordering mine, only to find out there all the same length, unless you've got a bike, which you can't put on a car. Cheers Kerry
You dont have to cut it even I bent the edges back under the plate, and screwed it on. Doesnt even look cut !
Re: You dont have to cut it even The funny part is, the person in the modification section asked if the car could be taken to a panel beater to modify the recess for the number plate. What a joke!!!!! Typical public servant answer (apologies to those of you who work in gov)
Re: Make a good story for current affair My wifey and I thought about that actually!! Probably wouldn't be meaty enough for them though, Plus I don't want too many of my customers knowing I own a 300. I have about 5000 customers on my books, and you never know who you might accidently upset, and then they see your car somehere and whammo keyscratch or something
They LOVE this sort of stuff. Innocent person makes a stand. It wouldn't go that far, but sometimes you just have to make a stand and not cop it. ACA would only be interested if you were prepared to go to prison, and within thirty minutes of it being aired they'd backflip. I'd simply not pay it and fight it in court if the rear bar is OEM. Present the full list of compliancing regualtions relating to the z) and give the copper the evil eye when he has to go to court. Jeeez, it beats boredom
How did I cut it??? I used a angle grinder, using a grinding blade, and ground it back to fit I then used a sanding machine to get the edge straight. Nothing to it really, it now has a nice tight fit.
ordering 5 diget plates may be good, but what if you already have... 6 diget personalised plates what then..? I am not going to go order new plates, just because they don't fit on my Zed. What do we do??? we have to cut them. or gaet some made specially. I am just going to cover the cutting or plated with the perspex plate protector. I have Black plates with white writing, It has a white border. Now that I have chopped it, the two side borders have been cut, I will fit the cover there is a black rubber seal which covers the top and bottom border, so it all looks neat. They wont even realise.
Hell Yeah! make a complaint Why not fight it, if you decide to use standard state number plates they don't fit! So what alternative do you have, but to bend or chop them. Why the Hell would they allow Zeds to be imported then, they pick on every other thing when compliancing these cars, why not the bar too!!!??? not that I want them to pick on it... But, if they let it be complianced. And they allow all these other import vehicles to come it, why not make special shortened plates also. Another example is the Toyota soarers, and Celsiors. They too need plates shortened. In the end its not our fault its the Govts.....:angry:
Make a Stand!!!!! make a complaint!!!!! I would.... :angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry:
Creating a fuss has the potential to backfire on 2+2 owners The OEM Aus spec rear bar will fit any Australian plate, as the plate recess is mega wide (Stillen 25th excepted) to cope with UK plates. The OEM J-spec is different. If a legal fuss was kicked up, the authorities would most likely be within their rights to suggest spending the money on (a)plates that will fit the J-Spec recess, or (b)an Aus spec rear bar - if you have a 2+2. They would most likely take the approach that if you are buying a car for the Oz market, it is up to YOU to comply with all legislation. Fo 2 seater owners, especially in those states that don't offer smaller sized plates, I would be interested to hear how the authorities suggest grey imports such as ours, and Mustangs, Camaros, Vettes etc with US-spec plate recesses are supposed to comply if cutting or bending isn't permitted. After all, it's been going on for decades with US imports.
Dunno Mike... ...but I do know Governments are very hessitant to bring in retrospective laws. And no it's not up to me... the Government controls what's imported and what must be done to make this vehicle legal, if one complies this really is a double standard. My Z has every single compliance on the list. Regardless, what a crock of shit... when law abiding citizens are fined for something like this it really pisses me off. They have plates that fit in this state but they're too busy charging you for the privilege. Bah, go chase the badguys plod!
Have to disagree with you on the NSW plate size I have the old style 2 letter 3 number and at a guess it is 40mm shorter. Fits easily in the rear bumper. Whether you can get the one you're looking for is a whole other story. Cheers, Dean
