On your learners? WEAR YOUR PLATE

**CB ARGH** · 13th July 2008, 15:30

It's a tough choice to wear the L plate or not. I'm deciding to wear it at the rear, I will speak no more of where it will be placed on the rear, but it will be viewable, and on the rear of the bike... My secret plan.

No offense dude, but I have to admit that you're an idiot for doing 70km/h without the L plate, by doing that you were just asking for trouble (from motorists AND the cops).

It's just a minor speed bump in your motorcycling life, just pay the fines, take it like a man, or a woman, and move on.

$400 fine for not using a $2 piece of plastic, wow, that cop's getting a payrise today.

**sinister^** · 13th July 2008, 15:42

Originally Posted by StClingin

It's a tough choice to wear the L plate or not. I'm deciding to wear it at the rear, I will speak no more of where it will be placed on the rear, but it will be viewable, and on the rear of the bike... My secret plan.

No offense dude, but I have to admit that you're an idiot for doing 70km/h without the L plate, by doing that you were just asking for trouble (from motorists AND the cops).

It's just a minor speed bump in your motorcycling life, just pay the fines, take it like a man, or a woman, and move on.

$400 fine for not using a $2 piece of plastic, wow, that cop's getting a payrise today.

Yeah I know I should of been doing 100km/h with no L plate on, but I couldn't because I was running my bike in its only done 200KM.

Anyways I rode home straight away after that and put my L plate back on and came back up to Wellsford. I stopped somewhere just after Wellsford and noticed that it had fell off, I thought "oww shit". What the hell I just went the 100km/h+ by then the bikes done 330KM.

**DingoZ** · 13th July 2008, 15:48

Displayed my L-plate. Didn't really bother me. Didn't get pulled over.

But it's in plain english (and translated into other languages), and is part of your licence condition that you do display, so your choice if you don't, and if you don't display you really have no comeback if you get caught and fined. Same as if you choose to speed and get caught.

Image v's $400.00 out of pocket ... Not really a factor

**CB ARGH** · 13th July 2008, 15:52

Originally Posted by sinister^

Yeah I know I should of been doing 100km/h with no L plate on, but I couldn't because I was running my bike in its only done 200KM.

If you can't do the speed limit, then you shouldn't be in the area. 300km's isn't much when you really think about it, you'd probably want at least five tanks worth before you give it over half throttle. Good on ya for getting the L plate though. Learn from your mistakes.

Big ups mate

**MSTRS:Me** · 13th July 2008, 16:03

Originally Posted by StClingin

... you'd probably want at least five tanks worth before you give it over half throttle....

Running in a new engine...you shouldn't be scared to rev them a bit, just not constant. If you pussy around too much, the rings will never bed properly.
The trick is to vary the revs heaps, but not load the engine up or rev the living shit either.

**BadCompany** · 13th July 2008, 16:27

A bit of a tip. Don't by those hard, brittle plastic L Plates from the warehouse. Get an ice cream container lid and put your art skills to work. The result: a flexible L Plate that won't break from wind or even a crash.

**Mikkel** · 13th July 2008, 16:32

Originally Posted by sinister^

Yeah I know I should of been doing 100km/h with no L plate on, but I couldn't because I was running my bike in its only done 200KM.

According to the law you should be observing all of your license conditions - period.

You choose to breach one, no worries - just don't come crying when it bites you in the arse. FYI - if you have insurance it will most likely not cover you if you are not observing your license restrictions.

You should be more worried about the 25 demerit points that goes with a breach of license restrictions. The L-plates are $2-5 I believe so I hope you can still afford one now.

As for whether the $400 bucks are disproportionate or not - it's a fine, it's stated load and clear how much it is... it is no more disproportionate than speeding tickets, parking fines, etc.

**blade1000** · 13th July 2008, 16:33

so the lesson you learnt today was 1) try be cool with no L plate or
2)use your L plate and do your time as most of us have done

**The Stranger:Me** · 13th July 2008, 16:42

Originally Posted by sinister^

I think he was a red head and sounded like a faggot, does anyone know the name of the officer?

Check with Hinney, he knows all the faggot cops.

**MSTRS:Me** · 13th July 2008, 16:43

Originally Posted by Mikkel

As for whether the $400 bucks are disproportionate or not - it's a fine, it's stated load and clear how much it is... it is no more disproportionate than speeding tickets, parking fines, etc.

I'm gonna take a contrary position here....
I realise that broken laws incur fines, but the L plate thing (in particular) and the after 10pm thing is not a one-size-fits-all...someone may have held a(nother) class of full licence for years, so other than the potential power of the bike, which is being addressed, that person is not going to need to show they are a learner or necessarily need to stay off their bike later at night. Some people have also ridden bikes for years (off road perhaps) so are going to be able to handle their machine, one assumes.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending people in this position or who have been sprung like the OP, but $400 for such a transgression is steep. Especially when it can be applied to each breach (ie no L, exceeding 70kph, after 10pm, on a 400 = $1600)

**sinister^** · 13th July 2008, 16:57

Originally Posted by MSTRS

no L, exceeding 70kph, after 10pm, on a 400 = $1600)

Booking my restricted for next payday.

**MSTRS:Me** · 13th July 2008, 17:04

Originally Posted by sinister^

Booking my restricted for next payday.

All that gives you is no L and up to 100k. Still no pillion, no 10pm to 5am, <250cc.
Still, cuts it back to $1200 eh?

**jade** · 13th July 2008, 17:49

I Never once wore an L plate in 5 years whilst on my learners, sometimes they did me for it, sometimes they didnt - The only time I wore it was for about an hour to get my restricted..

**Mikkel** · 13th July 2008, 17:59

Originally Posted by MSTRS

I'm gonna take a contrary position here....
I realise that broken laws incur fines, but the L plate thing (in particular) and the after 10pm thing is not a one-size-fits-all...someone may have held a(nother) class of full licence for years, so other than the potential power of the bike, which is being addressed, that person is not going to need to show they are a learner or necessarily need to stay off their bike later at night. Some people have also ridden bikes for years (off road perhaps) so are going to be able to handle their machine, one assumes.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending people in this position or who have been sprung like the OP, but $400 for such a transgression is steep. Especially when it can be applied to each breach (ie no L, exceeding 70kph, after 10pm, on a 400 = $1600)

Oh I agree that the restrictions are stupid and that the $400 and 25 demerit points are harsh - I'm just saying at least they are easy to understand and remember. I think any kind of demerit points for exceeding the speedlimit by less than 25% is grotesque - but that's just my opinion.
I'm guessing that the harsh penalties for breaking your license restrictions are meant just as much as a motivator to get your full license...

I only just got rid of my curfew about a month ago and I have been hating that particular restriction with a passion for all 9 months. Especially the fact that insurance will not cover if you ride between 10 pm and 5 am on your restricted - despite the fact that they happily insure your car at twice the value in the same period.

Just stupid.