Displaying Leaner Plate........

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 11:54

I was fined for not displaying a leaner plate...... I have written to the Police Infringement Bureau explaining that the L plate was definitely displayed when I left for the journey I made, yet they have written back saying 'after careful consideration the offense will not be waived'.

I also explained that I have made every effort to ensure I display the L plate and that I have had difficulty due to the design of the bike (surface area to attached the plate) etc.

How carefully did they consider that the plate was on my bike when I was last physically ABLE to see the back of my bike? How much more effort is humanly possible? Am I supposed to pull over every 5 minutes and make sure it's there?

I am now having to write back and request a hearing to get a judge to decide. What a waste of public time and money, for what!?!?!

I have witness at the address I left who also tell me the L plate was certainly attached to my bike when I set off. TAX payers money will be wasted sorting this out!

I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same petty crap from the long arm of the law.

Shame they can't spend more time stopping the boy-racers wheel-spinning and speeding past my home every day and night, mufflers n'all.

Rant over..........for now!

Merry Christmas by the way!

**Grub** · 19th December 2006, 12:08

My g/f lost about 5 learner plates that we had velcroed on. The FXR150 had just a slim slither of rear bumber to stick anything to. Eventually I undid the reg plate and screwed it back on through the learner plate.

She never got a ticket but after the third one, I took photo of us putting the plate on and of the velcro (that is supplied with the plate) all in place.

Maybe you can take a series of photos now to support your evidence. I would take it to court and make them look silly. A word of warning, don't try and pretend that a photo you take tomorrow was taken before the offence. All digital photo files have EXIF data that can't be changed, which records all the camera setting at the time of the photo.

Brett

**sunhuntin** · 19th December 2006, 12:12

just bolt the plate on with the license, rego and such. that where mine is....only down side is its in a spot where the tyre has had a pretty good munch. its been on 3 bike, in 3 positions, and as a result, there are portions missing. lol.

**Karma** · 19th December 2006, 12:13

Hahaha...

The good old "We've considered your letter and decided Fuck You! anyways"

Do you really think they even read your letter? Probably got to the bit where you said something like "my fine should be overturned" and then sent you out a stock Fuck Off letter.

**McJim** · 19th December 2006, 12:20

The problem you are facing is the large number of riders who do not bother with an L plate at all and then bleat that it fell off when faced with $400 and 25 demerit points.

I believe you firmly affixed your L plate to the back of the bike and that you were unfortunate enough that it fell off. The fact remains that the law states you must have an L plate of prescribed dimensions firmly affixed bneneath your number plate and you did not - regardless of how it came to not be there it wasn't there when you were stopped.

I used the old "drill a hole through number place and bolt it onto the mudguard" technique. Worked for me.

**Karma** · 19th December 2006, 12:21

Firmly affixed?? with a small strip of velcro??

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 12:22

Originally Posted by SwanTiger

I'm quite happy for my hard earned tax payed money to be spent prosecuting you. If you didn't have an L plate displayed and were fined, then you were unlucky enough to encounter a dickhead cop. The fact still remains, you did not have an L plate and the law is the law.

I hate the law too. Anyway, back to earning dollars to pay for your prosecution. I'm so upset.

There has to be boundaries on what can and cannot be perceived as doing ones best to ensure the plate is attached. Much like you cannot be blamed for a light bulb blowing while you drive. Having a broken headlight before you leave for a journey is one thing, having it break WHILE you drive is another.

So, back to my comments on 'human effort' - what do you propose I am suppose to do about the fact that a plate can come off without my knowing? And the fact that it was on when I set off...

And you think this sort of law is one worth wasting hard earned money on when there are more serious issues with society? That to me is somewhat deranged!

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 12:23

Originally Posted by Weasel

Firmly affixed?? with a small strip of velcro??

Cable tie. But using a cable tie means making holes in the L plate which in turn weaken the L plate, and when scooting along the wind then rips it off. It's happened several times. The remaining part of the plate was and still is clearly visible on the bike.

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 12:24

Originally Posted by Weasel

Hahaha...

The good old "We've considered your letter and decided Fuck You! anyways"

Do you really think they even read your letter? Probably got to the bit where you said something like "my fine should be overturned" and then sent you out a stock Fuck Off letter.

Of course they did. They do Joe Public no favours at-all really, do they!

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 12:25

Originally Posted by Grub

My g/f lost about 5 learner plates that we had velcroed on. The FXR150 had just a slim slither of rear bumber to stick anything to. Eventually I undid the reg plate and screwed it back on through the learner plate.

She never got a ticket but after the third one, I took photo of us putting the plate on and of the velcro (that is supplied with the plate) all in place.

Maybe you can take a series of photos now to support your evidence. I would take it to court and make them look silly. A word of warning, don't try and pretend that a photo you take tomorrow was taken before the offence. All digital photo files have EXIF data that can't be changed, which records all the camera setting at the time of the photo.

Brett

Thanks for this advise Brett

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 12:26

Originally Posted by McJim

The problem you are facing is the large number of riders who do not bother with an L plate at all and then bleat that it fell off when faced with $400 and 25 demerit points.

I believe you firmly affixed your L plate to the back of the bike and that you were unfortunate enough that it fell off. The fact remains that the law states you must have an L plate of prescribed dimensions firmly affixed bneneath your number plate and you did not - regardless of how it came to not be there it wasn't there when you were stopped.

I used the old "drill a hole through number place and bolt it onto the mudguard" technique. Worked for me.

I will have a look and see if this is possible. I believe it will cover a reflector though and that would fail a warrant.

**SwanTiger** · 19th December 2006, 12:29

Originally Posted by Snapper

And you think this sort of law is one worth wasting hard earned money on when there are more serious issues with society? That to me is somewhat deranged!

I agree that the law is stupid and wastes resources, however as myself and McJim have already stated, the law is the law and at the time you did not have an L plate displayed.

I'm not being negative, this is an explanation for why they refused to waiver the fine you received. No amount of court appearances or lawyers will devoid of the fact you did not have an L plate displayed which has a very clearly defined law and consequence.

**-df-** · 19th December 2006, 12:32

Originally Posted by Grub

My g/f lost about 5 learner plates that we had velcroed on. The FXR150 had just a slim slither of rear bumber to stick anything to. Eventually I undid the reg plate and screwed it back on through the learner plate.

She never got a ticket but after the third one, I took photo of us putting the plate on and of the velcro (that is supplied with the plate) all in place.

Maybe you can take a series of photos now to support your evidence. I would take it to court and make them look silly. A word of warning, don't try and pretend that a photo you take tomorrow was taken before the offence. All digital photo files have EXIF data that can't be changed, which records all the camera setting at the time of the photo.

Brett

not correct, EXIF data can be changed and the tag can be modified that holds the original date of the photo taken...I spent a wee while coding a EXIF coder/decoder last year. There are programs on the net that can do this, if you can't find one that will allow you to change the date and you have a hex editor just open it up and directly change the dates within the photo as they are just stored in there (at the top part). Just make sure you don't and any extra (or remove any) chars/bytes in there otherwise all the offset pointers will be shot and the photo wont open.

Not that I recommend you doing this...just educating you on the fact you can

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 12:35

Originally Posted by SwanTiger

I agree that the law is stupid and wastes resources, however as myself and McJim have already stated, the law is the law and at the time you did not have a L plate displayed.

I'm not being negative, this is an explanation for why they refused to waiver the fine you received. No amount of court appearances or lawyers will devoid of the fact you did not have an L plate displayed which has a very clearly defined law and consequence.

So someone driving at night with only one headlight should not be given the benefit of the doubt that it was working when they set off? I disagree. Someone who gets pulled frequently for such issues, sure, nail them.

The law may be the law, but it does have leniency and guidelines which are at the discretion of the officer at the time. If I can show that I have made every effort possible I don't see why I shouldn't be let off due to that discretion being harsh.

I have not received demerit points for this incidentally, and have been advised by my solicitor just moments ago that there should be no problem getting it waived with the help of my witnesses (one of which works for the Ministry of Justice).

**Snapper** · 19th December 2006, 12:38

Originally Posted by -df-

not correct, EXIF data can be changed and the tag can be modified that holds the original date of the photo taken...I spent a wee while coding a EXIF coder/decoder last year. There are programs on the net that can do this, if you can't find one that will allow you to change the date and you have a hex editor just open it up and directly change the dates within the photo as they are just stored in there (at the top part). Just make sure you don't and any extra (or remove any) chars/bytes in there otherwise all the offset pointers will be shot and the photo wont open.

Not that I recommend you doing this...just educating you on the fact you can

Nice one. I'm actually an MCSE, networking/servers being my thing, so this should be easy enough. Not that I will be doing it of course!