Silly rule

**bladez** · 18th February 2006, 10:25

What do you all think of the rule that you have to display an L plate on your res liance and car drivers do not

**Ixion** · 18th February 2006, 10:29

??? Explain ??? The rules about L plates are exactly the same for bikes and cars, except that bikes do not have to display the front one.

**bladez** · 18th February 2006, 10:35

Originally Posted by Ixion

??? Explain ??? The rules about L plates are exactly the same for bikes and cars, except that bikes do not have to display the front one.

the rule is that you do not have to display a L plate if you are in a cage on your res as you have proved that you can drive but on a bike you are still classed as a learner and have to display as i got done on my res and got a ticket for not displaying an L plate this was 3 years ago so my point is that why have to seprate rules unless the rules have changed since then

**scumdog** · 18th February 2006, 10:39

Had to display one in cages waaayy back in the early 70's until you got your Full.

**Ixion** · 18th February 2006, 10:42

If you had a restricted MOTORCYCLE license and got a ticket , on the bike, for not displaying an L plate, then you got swindled and should complain loudly and bitterly. There is no such law or requirement.

From the LTSA website
Learner licence conditions

1. You must not ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity greater than 250cc.
2. You must not go faster than 70 km/h on the open road.
3. You must not ride between 10 pm and 5 am.
4. You must not carry a passenger.
5. When you're riding, you must always have a learner ('L') plate attached to your motorcycle's rear number plate. You can obtain 'L' plates from Land Transport New Zealand's driver licensing agents:
......
Restricted licence conditions

1. You must not ride between 10 pm and 5 am.
2. You cannot carry a passenger.
3. You must not ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity greater than 250cc.

Once you have a restricted, you can biff the L plate. But note that it must be a restricted FOR A MOTORCYCLE. Restricted car licence and learner motorcycle licence (classes 1R and 6L or even 1 full and 6L) you must still display the plate. But it is exactly the same for car licences (and in reverse - full bike licence and learner car licence, must still display an L plate in the cage)

**WINJA** · 18th February 2006, 10:44

Originally Posted by scumdog

Had to display one in cages waaayy back in the early 70's until you got your Full.

AND NO DRIVERS LICENCE BACK THEN COST YOU $30 , THOSE WERE THE DAYS

**Ixion** · 18th February 2006, 10:48

Originally Posted by scumdog

Had to display one in cages waaayy back in the early 70's until you got your Full.

Don't think they had "Restricted" back then ? You got a provisional (5/-) and then went straight to full. 'Twas a long time ago - I seem to remember when I learnt there was no rule about L plates. Then some dork brought one in. And, in an abberant moment of sanity, a few years later the government scrapped it, because there were so many cars running around where Mum or Dad found it easier to leave the L plate permanetly fixed, rather than putting it on and off each time Junior had a lesson. Until some further years later the bureaucrats recovered and passed the present silly law. I see that the "permanent L plate" is starting to reappear- maybe sanity will again prevail, but I'm not going to be holding my breath

**gamgee** · 18th February 2006, 10:54

mmm might have to get an L plate for the zx6r, just to piss them off, but first i have to get my full licence, and then a zx6r

**Ivan** · 18th February 2006, 11:03

Originally Posted by gamgee

mmm might have to get an L plate for the zx6r, just to piss them off, but first i have to get my full licence, and then a zx6r

Put on a bright yellow plate with the fingers being shown that will teach em lmao.

**myvice** · 18th February 2006, 12:09

L-plates on 4WD's, caus you would want to learn in one of them!
On a vaguely related subject...
Talking with a work college about the restriction for bikes, started thinking about it a bit and worked out that your average 250 4 has aprox 30 hp (usually more), and wet weight with rider in full gear you might hit 300 kg (probably less).
10kg per hp, not great but not too bad, not too many cars out there that can boast that.
Average car with driver and other rubbish about 2000 kg. So 200hp.
How many newbe's with $40,000+ to spend on a car?

You only have your L-plate on for 30 minutes anyway…

**bugjuice** · 18th February 2006, 15:09

L plate I can understand and think both cars and bikes should display.
It's the cc and speed restriction that bikes have that cars don't, is what I disagree with. The 70kph restriction should be scrapped, and cage learners should be restricted to cc/bhp/vehicle size while learning..

Daddie's V8 SUV/commadore/HSV/Falcon/whateverelse is not the ideal car to learn in..

**Karma** · 18th February 2006, 15:16

See normally I wouldn't mind the L plate thing... anywhere other than New Zealand... and specifically Auckland.

If you spot a learner in the UK you hang back, and give them plenty of room, but in NZ it seems the opposite holds true...

A large number of Kiwis can't drive as it is, but an L plate seems to give them license to act nuts.

I had more incidents with car drivers whist I borrowed my bros GN250 with an L plate than in five months of riding the ZX4R

**bugjuice** · 18th February 2006, 15:18

i never rode with my L plate on. I just felt like a target.
sad, cos it should indicate to give the rider/driver room for errors etc.. but nope.. that's too hard

**Karma** · 18th February 2006, 15:21

Well I've never had to either... did DAS in the UK so never really was a learner as such... but my bro uses his L plate...

Suppose if anything it's good practice for avoiding all the pricks who are gonna try and kill you at some point during your ride...