L plates - which offence is worse?

[McJim]

I've searched the forums but can't specifically find the answer to this one.
Can someone please tell me which offence is deemed worse by the Police or by the NZ Law in general. Driving with the flow of traffic causing you to exceed the 70 kph Learner Limit with an L plate on OR being caught without an L plate?
If they both have the same weight ($400 and 25 points) then surely this persuades us learners that it does not pay to wear your L plate since sensible riding will result in you not being stopped by the police at all.....
At the moment I am at risk of being pinged for the first one as I like my hazards where I can see 'em - in front of me - not barrelling up my arse at 110 when I'm doing 70 (imagine being hit from behind by a car doing 40kmh while you are waiting at the lights).

[Ulaa]

Very good question BigMcjim. I have now had my 3rd LPlate fall off my bike cause they are only Velcro'd on. There is nowhere on the rear of my bike to physically attach it so they keep falling off. I also tend to feel like a target with the LPlate on a lot of the time, I think some drivers will actually take the opportunity to mess with you if they think you are a newbie.

[sAsLEX]

One is $400 for breach of license conditions

the other around 170 odd assuming say less than 30 over I think?! Might be 25 over where it ramps up again



But I was stopped on L's without the plate and just got my standard road tax not one for the lack of l plate

[Filterer]

From what i have read about others experiences with the coppas if you have an L plate up and are going with the flow of the traffic then they won't pull you over....

but personally I dont do the whole L plate thing on the bike

[Jonny Rotten]

i never had an L plate on my bike apart from when i sat my restricted....mainly because i ride down the motorway everyday to work and didnt like doin 70 kmh while the other traffic was doin 100 kmh as long as you ride safe i dont see why you would get stopped.....but i cant awnser your questuon on which one is more fround apon

[Patrick]

"Don't do 70 in a 100 zone ever. Go with the flow... dont attract attention to yourself" is what my basic handling instructor told me... He was right.

[thehollowmen]

No L plates is $400 AND 25 demerits.

Going at 100 on the open road rather than 70 is 35 demerits and I can't remember the dollars BUT You'll never be called on it. Just about never.

The only time is when you'll be stopped and done for 30 over you're traveling at ticketable speeds and then they'll tack an extra 30km/h to the ticket. This means that 111km/h is license loosing speed(!!!) for a learner (40 over = 28 days walking). And then you'll also get another 400 and 25 from no L plate.

You can be justified by saying you're moving at the same speed as traffic and decided it was safer after just about being hit from behind by a WRX / RAV4 and other cars, and their dangerous overtaking.


Both with make you inelligable for the CBTA course.

[bobsmith]

I always kept my L plate on my bike and did open road speed everywhere. I personally thought doing 70km/hr on open road was completely idiotic.

I can say I've passed several pigs doing 100km/hr on open road and I was never stopped. that's just my experience though...

[speights_bud]

This means that 111km/h is license loosing speed(!!!) for a learner (40 over = 28 days walking). And then you'll also get another 400 and 25 from no L plate.

Not quite so,
you will be fined $400 for breach of licence cond, being 30 km over your 70 km/h licence condition. This is NOT a speed limit. therefore you will recieve a ticket for doing the 11km/h over the speedlimit and a $400 fine for breach of licence conditions.

I always rode with my L-plate on, had not problems as i was keeping up/passing other traffic anyway. and only ever got pulled up for doing 120...

Also another good point:

NO L-PLATE ALSO MEANS NO INSURANCE!!!

Same principle as a restricted car driver with passengers! breach of licence conditions.

My advice, mount the L-plate, do your time, fold it up under ur plate or whatever you wanna do with it, just put the bloody thing on so you don't find yourself paying off a $100,000 BMW for the rest of your life

Happy riding

[apteryx_haasti]

I've chosen to go with the L-plate permanently on the bike, but ride to the situation, which means there is no way I am doing 70 kph on the open road unless everyone else is to. If I get pulled over for it and asked how fast I'm going I'm going to say, "No idea, officer, I was watching my following distance to the car in front."

I decided to try and stick to 100 or under while wearing the L. Sounds pretty much like they won't pull ya over for going up to 100 but more than that's probably asking for hassles.

Roll on October and the restricted test! Woo woo!

A_H

[MattRSK]

Roll on October and the restricted test! Woo woo!

A_H

We must of got our licence around the same time.

[Buster]

The 70kph rule is there to keep learners off the open road. If your going to do it, tuck the L plate up as to not attract any undue attention.
Doing 70 in a 100 zone is a very bad idea.

Speightsbud is right about the fines..

[sunhuntin]

I've chosen to go with the L-plate permanently on the bike, but ride to the situation, which means there is no way I am doing 70 kph on the open road unless everyone else is to. If I get pulled over for it and asked how fast I'm going I'm going to say, "No idea, officer, I was watching my following distance to the car in front."

I decided to try and stick to 100 or under while wearing the L. Sounds pretty much like they won't pull ya over for going up to 100 but more than that's probably asking for hassles.

Roll on October and the restricted test! Woo woo!

A_H

i wear my l plate [whats left of it!! one corner missing and opposite corner chewed by the tyre] and ride to open road speeds. got followed by a cop on the wellington motorway...had just pulled off from the lights so was only going 80...was about to wind it up when i took a better look at the car behind me. had there been no lights, i would have been doing 100/110 k.

i dont mind the plate...i think its kinda dinky really...kinda like the tiggers that hang off my fork reflectors, lmfao.

[Hellraiser]

The 70kph rule is there to keep learners off the open road.

Ooooh MY GOD we have someone with a brain cell ....... lol

You hit the nail on the head. If you turned to me and said "but constanoon i was just traveling at the same speed as the cars cause it would be dangerous to do 70km" i'd give you a $400 fine and tell you to get OFF the m/way.

Cause as stated the limit is there so you don't use the m/ways hence when you do your restricted test there's no open road riding.

[Squeak the Rat]

There may be a difference in attitude of the coppas depending on where you are. Outside the main centers they are probably more lenient because sometimes you have to go on the open road.

In Aucks and Wellington, there are alternatives to the motorway and you may be more likely to get stopped.