hypothetical situation # 427

**ZorsT** · 10th November 2005, 20:22

My friend is thinking of buying a bike...

Said friend happens to own a bike exactly the same as the bike he is thinking of buying.

The bike he is thinking of buying has no VIN, and therefore, no REG or WOF...

My friend has a great idea. He plans to take his number plate and reg and wof stickers off HIS bike and affix them to his new bike in order to drive it home...

My friend lives in Greymouth, and the new bike is in Timaru.

How likely is it for my friend to be caught, and what would he be charged with? I suspect it would be slightly more than just fines.

Thanks for your help.

**NotaGoth** · 10th November 2005, 20:27

Someone I work with was just talking bout that the other day, she did it with a car, drove around for 3 years, got pulled up ALOT and never got caught. People were none the wiser. Once you do get caught though..... I don't think the consequences would be worth it.

**Toast** · 10th November 2005, 20:29

I'd imagine you'd only get nicked if you crashed it and there was an insurance investigation or something.

I mean, no officer is going to check the chassis and engine numbers on the vehicle.

**Motu** · 10th November 2005, 20:32

I do it all the time,always have - the secret is not to do anything stupid enough that a Cop would even look at you.....a little trick that is sadly lost on 90% of riders,they are the ones the Cops ''pick on''.Tell him to blend in and be invisible.

**ZorsT** · 10th November 2005, 20:37

Said bike is not worth the excess his insurance requires (under 25 male on learners)

Said friend never does anything to stand out

**Mumbles** · 10th November 2005, 20:37

Tell your

"friend" ...
Dont get caught! No insurance so dont crash into the back of a $$$ car. Dont panic if the fuzzz stops ya for a chat

**NotaGoth** · 10th November 2005, 20:40

repeat... DON'T CRASH

**riffer** · 10th November 2005, 20:46

Here's my interpretation on the legalities of the situation. However, I may be wrong and I am happy to be corrected on this.

INMHO - legally speaking, its vehicle conversion.

However, if one puts aside any legal problems, there's one biggie your friend will need to consider.

Any time you take a bike for a warrant, the person assessing the vehicle should check the VIN plate.

So your friend would be best advised to swap the VIN plate over.

I've had many assessors check the VIN plate, never had one check the serial number.

Is there something wrong with the frame on the old bike?

Legally, you can take everything off the new bike, and put it on the old frame, and it's not vehicle conversion, as the VIN title resides only on the frame.

However, if you're just riding it home, changing the plates should be okay, as long as you don't speed...

**marty** · 10th November 2005, 20:50

nah - it's not conversion - you have to take something that's not yours , for your own use. they are simple fraud offences (obtaining pecuniary advantage, maybe false pretences). right at the lower end. if it's for a delivery, the bike is in otherwise (ie warrantable) condition, and he's not doing anything stupid, then i shouldn't think it'd be an issue.

**FROSTY:Me** · 10th November 2005, 20:58

Short answer -Tell your "freind" -make sure the bike he's buying is actually safe to be on the road. If it is then just do it--for the purposes of transporting it home only.
Mind you --why friggin bother--said freind has to get to the bike in question somehow--why not just take a van or a car with trailer and save the hassle

**ZorsT** · 10th November 2005, 20:59

My friend plans to make a racebike out of the new bike, so he will only be riding it on the road home. Therefore, taking it in for WOF's is not going to happen.

The bike is in a warrantable state, so he will just need to remember to not be stupid.