Hello all, Last night on the way home from work I got stopped at a Booze Bus and breathilized... The copper was about to let me go, when a Senior Sergeant came along and pulled me up to the side. After looking over my car and not finding anything, he began to go on about being able to canarie me and fine me for 'obscure number plates'.. Why? Because my rear plate is a little bent from the sides to fit into the spot... It is not 'obscure' or 'obstructed'!!! Perfectly readable, and its a factory rear bar. Because I have number and letter mixed I was unable to get slimline plates... The police officer did not book me however said that I will have will have to 'modify' my rear bar to make the plate fit... The car is a J-spec and the bar slot is smaller than the Aus-delivered ZX... What can I do about this? Thanks all. :bash:
I cut the bar in the join at the back and pushed the plate into the slot on either side. Might take a picture when i get home. Easy job
Correct. Numbers have to be visible from 45 degrees to the side. All bent plates are illegal unless you build a bracket to push them further rearwards (together with number plate light) I got a five digit plate for Silver that fits in the slot.
Is it ok to just cut to ends off my number plates to make them fit? with out touching where the lettering is? Or get a custom plate made from a shop that looks identical to my current plate, only shorter in length?
pretty sure you will get done if you mod the plate in any way. and remanufactured plate would be just as illegal. if you have a 2+2 then you would have to get a AUS-spec rear bar as it has the larger opening for the number plate. if you have a 2+0 the only way to do it is to do what pexzed did and get the plate spaced out from the rear bar and rig up a separate light. btw slimline plates are exactly the same width as normal plates, they're just thinner from top to bottom. i have slimline plates, i had to bend the edges in to fit into the rear bar. haven't really had any trouble about it so i'm just going to leave it as is.
just take it over to RTA tell them the story. IN ACT: for Jap cars they know this is an issue and ususally just pass the car. its a pain but hey. the popo are tools.
I trimmed the ends of the rear plate when I first got the car registered and put a cover over the plate which hides the fact that the plate has been cut. The police have yet to spot it after eight years of ownership
oooh good advice. I was gonna suggest "give them the bird" but yours might actually work I had simular event once but no "warning" as such. Was out in the 180sx on my way home from having looked at a set of wheels and tyres for sale. Reason, my fronts were badly bald (i didn't realise at the time, but the steel belt was showing even) I had NOT brought the wheels as they were shit. So on my way home, flagged over for booze check. Cops looking over the car, and in my mind im rehursing my story of "i know. im sorry... i was just looking at some tyres for sale officer, honest" They didn't spot the tyres at all. As i rolled away one of the cops that had been looking over the car with his tourch, suddenly yells out "Oi MATE!" shit I stop the car and look back "You're number plate is a bit bent mate!" me: "Yeah I know, but I'm planning on getting some private plates made up that'll fit" cop: "Ah yeah, cool!" and with that he waves me off
In Vic, get 5 digit personal plates in slimline size. They are not as wide as standard plates and fit the J-spec rear bar without any bending. Gotta pay the personal plate price though.
Even with the ends bent up they're still visible from 45 degrees. The law states you can't damage or modify the plates in anyway. This includes bending them. Your best bet is to cut slits on either side of the space and slip the ends in there. They can't bust you for that at all, as the numbers are still visible from 45 degrees and you haven't modified the plate.
