L plate

**SlowHand** · 22nd September 2005, 15:38

Who here used an L plate in the past? who chose not to? would you?
Im just weighing up my options. 70kmh is a joke, so do you do over 70 and have an Lplate, dont worry about it etc.

Also, if you don't have an L plate, does it make insurance void?

**vifferman** · 22nd September 2005, 15:41

Originally Posted by Albin

Who here used an L plate in the past? who chose not to? would you?
Im just weighing up my options. 70kmh is a joke, so do you do over 70 and have an Lplate, dont worry about it etc.

Also, if you don't have an L plate, does it make insurance void?

You didn't search on this one, didja?
The consensus seems to be that the best bet is to bolt one on your bike, snap it off, then stick the remains in your pack or under the seat. oh - and travel at the same speed as the traffic, while not doing anything mental to stick out (like weaving erratically, lane-splitting at 90km/h, riding on one wheel standing on the tank, etc.

**Warren** · 22nd September 2005, 15:55

Originally Posted by Albin

Who here used an L plate in the past? who chose not to? would you?
Im just weighing up my options. 70kmh is a joke, so do you do over 70 and have an Lplate, dont worry about it etc.

Also, if you don't have an L plate, does it make insurance void?

I don't think it will affect insurance (it never has with me) but if you get pulled over by a cop and act like a fuckwit then they can fine you for breaching the terms of L license, but when I have been pulled over they have not even mentioned it.

**limbimtimwim** · 22nd September 2005, 16:01

Originally Posted by Albin

Who here used an L plate in the past? who chose not to? would you?
Im just weighing up my options. 70kmh is a joke, so do you do over 70 and have an Lplate, dont worry about it etc.

I rode around for a year and a half (including around most NZ) on my learners with no L plate. I am not saying do it, just you probably won't get caught if you don't do anything wrong. I went straight through an intersection that had a turn arrow painted and got a ticket while on my learners. Mr policeman was very nice, gave me a ticket for the not following the arrow and wondered out loud something like "Oh dear! Your L plate has fallen off (It was never there ever of course) you better get that fixed or the fine will be much bigger.."

Also, if you don't have an L plate, does it make insurance void?

Most likely.. So on retrospect I was a total asshole to everyone else out there, if I had damaged their stuff I imagine my 3rd party insurance wouldn't have kicked in.

Just get off your learners as fast as possible..

**The Stranger:Me** · 22nd September 2005, 16:24

The road code says you must display an L plate of a certain dimension under certain circumstances.

Is there a law saying you may NOT display an L plate?

ie I have my full. Is there any law against displaying an L plate and travelling at 100kmh?

**R1** · 22nd September 2005, 16:42

hehehe rambling idiot.......sory cant contribute anything helpfull, i have had tickets for both offences tho..and something like 42 speeding infringments(i would recomend not speeding)

**Ixion** · 22nd September 2005, 16:43

Originally Posted by CaN

The road code says you must display an L plate of a certain dimension under certain circumstances.

Is there a law saying you may NOT display an L plate?

ie I have my full. Is there any law against displaying an L plate and travelling at 100kmh?

Yes. There is. Unless you are teaching a learner, or on your way to do so, or a driving instructor.

**Patrick** · 22nd September 2005, 16:50

Everyone seems to agree that doing 70 on the highway at night is completely dangerous... Basic handling skill teechas even say "go with the flow..."

Don't attract attention to yourself and all is good...

**madboy** · 22nd September 2005, 17:18

LOL... an L plate... talk about asking for trouble. I'm told cars aim for you and are deliberately obnoxious, but I've never EVER ridden with an L plate.

400cc, no insurance and sometimes carried a pillion, occasionally slowed to 70, but usually kept my lane-splitting to 100k+... oh, hang on, I'm supposed to be showing maturity here and encouraging those not as experienced to learn in the correct way!

I got an exemption to ride the 400 for my CBTA.

IMHO an L plate is a target. If you look confident, ride with the flow and don't make any rude gestures at cops, then you'll prob be fine. Just don't start visibly shaking when you roll up next to the Highway Patrol at an intersection...

**SlowHand** · 22nd September 2005, 19:17

vifferman - snapped, no i didnt. The snap of thing is the highest on the list. I just wanted to do a poll on the thing and see whe majority was.

madboy - shaking erratically thing - when we first got our full cage licence we used to do that just to see what the cops would do. Only got one bite. He just leaned out the window and said, how old are you fellas? Do you have your full licence?
And we did get a nible, the two young smurfs just pointed at us and laughed.

**R6_kid:Me** · 22nd September 2005, 19:35

i didnt comply to either, just didnt be a fool. Its a personal choice at the end of the day. I got warned once but never got 'caught' as such. Its $400 if you do get caught, and another $400 per licence rule you breach.

**skelstar** · 22nd September 2005, 20:00

Still on my L but removed it after two weeks. Do 200-300km trips on the weekend with litre bikes so it would be kinda ridiculous. Have/choose to commute to work on the motorway with realistic 100km/h speeds which would be dangerous at 70km/h. I had two incidents in two weeks of L-plating to convince me that wankers in BMW 4WDs are going to aim for you.

**ZorsT** · 22nd September 2005, 20:22

Get an L plate from repco, they are made from cloth so they bend around things. I have mine duct taped above my number plate, with my WOF sticker holder blocking a quarter of it. Its pretty hidden as nothing pokes out from the normal places, and only two thirds is actually visible because of the duct tape and wof sticker holder. Seems to work for me

Oh, and I tried doing 70Kph once... NEVER AGAIN

I even passed a mufty cop on a passing lane...

**Gremlin** · 23rd September 2005, 00:09

I have the L plate on all the time, and have never ever followed the 70 rule. Go with the flow, don't act like an idiot and look to be in control. I travel in traffic, motorways, country etc. Basically, when I get the restricted other than getting rid of that square, nothing will change.

The way I see it, yes, I am breaking a rule, but I have a reason. Obeying the 70 = suicide. I reckon I could level with the officer and explain my reasoning calmly and hopefully he would understand.

If I get pulled over on a learner license with no L plate, then there is no excuse I can see (except for the "broke off" - which I'm sure all cops know by now).

As many have said before in other threads, if a cop is having a bad day and wants to hit you with something, then he will most likely find something anyway.

**nudemetalz** · 23rd September 2005, 15:40

An L Plate isn't that bad. I had to have one on my bike because I work for NZ Post delivering the mail. It's a $400 fine if you're caught without an L plate while on your learners. You're only on your learners for 6 months, so what's the big deal?