L plates for non learners?

[Highlander]

Sounds like a silly question I guess, but is it a ticketable offence to have L plates on (car or Bike) if you have a full licence.

The back ground is we have teen age kids who are required to have L plates on the car, which we just leave in. We have been told by several well meaning people that we could get a ticket for this if the learner driver is not in the car.

Likewise we have a 250 for my wife to learn to ride on, she needs the L plate, is it a ticketable offence for me to ride it with the L plate still on?

Cheers.

[Kiwifire72]

As far as I know it is not a ticketable offence to drive with L plates when you have a full
There would be many of us out there in your position and all do the same thing leave the L plates in vehical or on bike as it is to much a hassle to remember to remove and replace when needed

[Kiwifire72]

As far as I know I also don't know much so my above statement may be full of law breaking holes but no doubt one of our fine brothers or sisters in blue will enlighten us all on this topic

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

To the best of my knowledge its not a ticketable offence... but I could be wrong... maybe give Scumdog a PM or something...

[Toaster]

Sounds like a silly question I guess, but is it a ticketable offence to have L plates on (car or Bike) if you have a full licence.

The back ground is we have teen age kids who are required to have L plates on the car, which we just leave in. We have been told by several well meaning people that we could get a ticket for this if the learner driver is not in the car.

Likewise we have a 250 for my wife to learn to ride on, she needs the L plate, is it a ticketable offence for me to ride it with the L plate still on?

Cheers.

That is absolute bollocks. It is no offence to leave them in the car or bike. The law only requires them to be displayed for the learner driver rider. It does not contemplate the situation you indicate.

[Highlander]

That is absolute bollocks. It is no offence to leave them in the car or bike. The law only requires them to be displayed for the learner driver rider. It does not contemplate the situation you indicate.

That was my reaction too, but thought I should check it out just in case. Did a fruitless search on the LTSA website so thought I'd throw it open here, hoping to get a response from one of our Semi Tamed Officers....

[Toaster]

That was my reaction too, but thought I should check it out just in case. Did a fruitless search on the LTSA website so thought I'd throw it open here, hoping to get a response from one of our Semi Tamed Officers....

Well, I was a cop and I knew those road laws pretty well and eventually specialised in it for my last year. There is no offence there buddy.... there would be no safety issue there at all. Nor is it deceptive or gaining any advantage by having the plates up. Quite the opposite in fact!

[Highlander]

Cheers man, I'll take that as gospel then (still cautious about exceeding 70 on the wifes bike though).

[Toaster]

Cheers man, I'll take that as gospel then (still cautious about exceeding 70 on the wifes bike though).

I wouldn't be concerned. The only inconvenience is if a rather zealous copper pulls you over to confirm your licence. It is as simple as saying it is your wifes bike (and she is the learner) but you were using it today and there is no point taking the plate off.

Safe riding out there.

[McJim]

I used to borrow the missus bike and had to remove the L plates since it IS an offence to display a yellow L plate unless you hold a learners licence - I have the book here and am reading it and will post the relevent excerpts once found.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I used to borrow the missus bike and had to remove the L plates since it IS an offence to display a yellow L plate unless you hold a learners licence - I have the book here and am reading it and will post the relevent excerpts once found.

Well there you go...

[swbarnett]

Just from memory I was told years back that it's legal to drive on a full license with an L plate but you must adhere to the restrictions of the L plate. Something about not wasting a cop's time or such like. In practice though I'd like to think that if a cop did pull you over they'd be reasonable about it once they saw your full license.

[klingon]

Here's a post of Ixion's from a while back explaining it all:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...7&postcount=45

[Toaster]

Well paint me purple and call me an eggplant. What a stupid rule.... well, my last post stands that it would be rather ridiculous to get and infringement for that. The cop would really need a damn good reason to justify anything but a reminder.

I think it is a stupid rule. makes sense from a legal perspective but no practical sense for day to day living. Many people have L plates in their cars and also shared bikes and it really lacks practicality to have to remove them every time the driver changes.

[Toaster]

In practice though I'd like to think that if a cop did pull you over they'd be reasonable about it once they saw your full license.

Exactly. Most cops wouldn't even bother a learner on a bike at 100km/h as long as they kept in line with traffic flow and were being a good little boy or girl. Mind you, a telling off and being told to get off the motorway and use back roads may be in order if they are really grumpy and ran out of doughnuts at morning tea. As for cars.... who gives a toss. It was always the learners driving without L-plates and carrying their mates about after hours that were a good target for the govt coffers.