Ticket for "L" plate riders

[Beemer]

That's a pretty steep fine for what I'd call a minor infringement - you get less than that for not wearing a seat belt and you know how dangerous that can be! They never had those huge yellow L plates when I was learning to ride, I was given a white plastic rectangle about 10cm x 6cm with a red L on it. I had it screwed to the numberplate so I could swing it up underneath it when I wanted! I found it was like a challenge to drivers - let's see how close up the rear end we can get to this rider and see if we can make them fall off!

And the 70kph rule is one of the most ridiculous I have ever come across. The first ride I went on with some friends was along the Hutt motorway and if I'd travelled at 70 I would have been history pretty quickly. Most drivers are unaware of the rule and I lost count of the times I was nearly tailgated by some ignorant moron waving his fist who would then pull in front of me like it was MY fault! I lived in Lower Hutt and couldn't have gone anywhere without entering a 100kph zone, so how boring would that have been!

I had to remember to travel at 70kph for my full licence test, but I certainly felt a lot safer once I decided to increase my speed to 100kph. Are car drivers on a learner's or restricted licence limited to 70kph too? (Got my licence back in 1984 so a bit different then!)

Bummer about the fine, but if I were you I'd put the L plate on until you don't need it any more because it's highly likely this cop will keep an eye out for you in the future and he's not likely to be very sympathetic if he catches you again.

[MagicMarker]

Are car drivers on a learner's or restricted licence limited to 70kph too?.

Nope car driver's on a learner's don't have a speed restriction (i would know, cos i'm on a car learners too ) The speed restriction is really stupid aswell, luckily I wasn't speeding, and don't think I'll be riding much motorway anymore either. $400 is really steep, people get cheaper fines for speeding, and not having an "L" plate isn't that dangerous aswell. Really silly laws!

[Jeremy]

If that was the case, most of the learners on the North Shore of Auckland couldn't go to Auckland City as the only route is the motorway and over the bridge.

The motorway at that point is 80km/h max though. And there is a way around to memory it just takes forever.

[Fart]

You should have ripped up the ticket in front of the cop. He cant arrest you for that. You gonna pay the fine anyway, so might as well pis him off and get your satisfaction.

[Ms Piggy]

AFter returning from a ride today I came back with a $400 ticket for not having an "L" plate! Cops these days are now doing random checks on motor vehicles. Unluckily enough I got caught, and due to my stupidity aswell.. Just some information that no "L" plate = $400. Probably still not gonna put back on my "L" plate... or should I? Hopefully this won't happen again. Now it's time to get a job.

But I thought you said it had blown off when you were riding - I was sure you had it on when you left home!

A certain enforcer of law and order around these parts passed a comment to me, when I was visiting down them there parts in the South end of this country, that it would pay to keep a few scraps of wire around abouts your plate so that it kinda looks like your L plate may have in fact just blown off.

[Beemer]

[QUOTE=Celtic_Sea_lily]But I thought you said it had blown off when you were riding - I was sure you had it on when you left home! QUOTE]

My husband said the same thing - he said you should have walked around to the back of the bike and said "but it was there when I left home!" They can't prove you never had one there - but it helps to have a few holes that look like they could have had one attached there!

I can understand being given a warning and having to front up to the police station to prove you have attached one, but $400 is ridiculous. If they say speed kills and speedsters should be penalised, why did I only get fined $170 for speeding? (Not that I want my fine increased thank you!) Surely if speeding is more dangerous, the fine for not having an L plate should only be $50 and no demerit points.

In the olden days L plates were there so other drivers were aware you were a learner and could give you some room and show a bit of courtesy. Now they are like a red rag to a bull so why should we use them?

[pyrocam]

only another 15days and I can stop worrying about no L plate on my bike. another KB'er I know has a small L plate on their bike and does highway speeds. I guess its 50/50 as to which you think your going to be pulled over on.


I suppose I should put it back on for the last 2 weeks. otherwise im just tempting fate. im pretty unlucky. I do keep it in my backpack (which I always carry when riding) with one corner ripped off.

[Biff]

Fine for $400 for not putting an L plate on your bike, and you're still going to ride around without one? If you've got money to waste throw some this way please mate.

[pyrocam]

Fine for $400 for not putting an L plate on your bike, and you're still going to ride around without one? If you've got money to waste throw some this way please mate.

but its only the last 2 weeks from the last 5 months of riding l-plate-less. I get the feeling i might be tempting fate too much.

on the other hand. me and another biker I was following lane splitted straight past a coppa car on the way home yesterday, proberly about 40k's I get the feeling I would have been stopped had I had my L's on.

[scumdog]

Bottom line is kiddies: YOU knew what the rules were when YOU signed up for your licence, the law doesn't care what YOU think of it's rules.

YOU get pulled over and breaking the laws? Face what YOU get and thank your lucky stars if YOU get away with anything.

Down here I notice those with 'L' plates get more room given to them and a bit more courtesy shown to them.

Having said the above I can't recall giving anybody a ticket for no 'L' plate.

Have for a 'L' driver driving around with a heap of teenage drunken mates, it's not like they can say "I didn't realise I had them with me" as when somebody is speeding and says "I didn't realise I was speeding"

[geoffm]

$150 for going over the centre line . $400 for failing to display an L sticker. You tell me which is more dangerous.

And $75 (IIRC - it mauy have gone up) for running a red light. Now don't tell me that red light running is safe! been damn near taken out to many times in Auckland already
Geoff

[Coyote]

Can't wait to ditch the bloody thing

[loosebruce]

Hard luck on the fine M/maker, dems the brakes though, i got pulled i longtime ago, shat myself as i just had the 250 tapped out for quite a period until i caught up on some traffic indicated moved across and whoa mufti pulling me up, one of my indicator bulbs had gone which is why he pulled me (whew) he also mentioned that it's a $400 fine for no L plate, i assured him i'd be getting one the next day and fixing the indicator, real good guy, let me off.

Really the "L" plate aint that bad a thing to have, and when you consider how many "L" plates you can buy for $400, makes sense really. I'm not going to think any less of a rider cause he/she has "L" plates.

[scumdog]

You should have ripped up the ticket in front of the cop. He cant arrest you for that. You gonna pay the fine anyway, so might as well pis him off and get your satisfaction.

How old are you???? Do you REALLY think doing that would piss a cop off?

Have had it happen to me twice now and nearly had a riot on my hands when I burst out laughing when the dude went into a rage and tried to impress? me by tearing up his ticket and acting like a nong, couldn't help it, he looked so funny!!!!

(you'ld know if it did piss him of when you got the ticket for littering too!!!)

[MagicMarker]

i've slapped on my "L" plate now, i don't even know if i should still ride motorways. I'm only a teenager and i needed to show my mother the fine so, no ripping up tickets hehehe. 4 more months with the darn thing and then it's gone forever! Think i'd ride without the "L" plate for weekend cruises, or should i leave it on?