Number Plates, 0 or O

**frogamic** · 22nd March 2009, 20:18

I've just bought a Honda Hornet and am a bit puzzled by the number plate

*Number Plate*

In the picture, the character after the 3 doesn't have a line through it, making me think the plate read "3OWLS", i.e. 3 of the nocturnal flying creatures, quite a cool plate I thought (although not a selling point and not really important).

When I did the change of ownership, the printed card thing said at the top "30WLS" with a line through the zero.

My question is, does anyone know if there was a time when the zero character didn't have a line through it? If not, how did the line-less zero get on my plate? should I get a new one made? Is it illegal?

**YellowDog** · 22nd March 2009, 20:26

Well yes, you should get a new plate made. But look on the bright side, someone else will get all your tickets (until you get caught)

**FJRider** · 22nd March 2009, 20:35

Originally Posted by YellowDog

Well yes, you should get a new plate made. But look on the bright side, someone else will get all your tickets (until you get caught)

Perhaps a personalised plate 3 OWLS ... ??? just so you can say... wasn't me... cover two asses...

**Renegade** · 22nd March 2009, 20:39

have you compared the O to other O's on other plates, note though that they recently changed the stamping font on number plates so try and find a older car or bike.

or go to a cop shop and ask them to run it cos i think their computer tells them if its a personalised plate or not.

**frogamic** · 22nd March 2009, 20:40

I've checked on plates.co.nz and it says the personalised plate "3OWLS" is available, so surely all the tickets would still come back to me

**Rockbuddy** · 22nd March 2009, 20:44

3OWLS is unissued according to carjam

**AllanB** · 22nd March 2009, 20:46

The previous owner was a girl right?

Seriously - I'd change the plate, I suspect she was a whore.

Who else would run around advertising with a plate that reads "3-holes"

**Mom** · 22nd March 2009, 20:52

That plate reads 30 WLS, back in the dark ages in data entry type things an O was always struck through with a / and a zero was 0. Picking the same applies today.

**frogamic** · 22nd March 2009, 20:58

Originally Posted by AllanB

The previous owner was a girl right?

Seriously - I'd change the plate, I suspect she was a whore.

Who else would run around advertising with a plate that reads "3-holes"

No, the plate is definitely three zero WLS, not personalised, I'm just not sure if it was printed with a zero at some obscure moment in time when someone had just decided that zeros didn't need lines through them on number plates, or if it's a mistake or if some previous owner has modified it (I haven't got the bike yet so can't check if it's indented with a line through or not).

**frogamic** · 22nd March 2009, 21:02

Originally Posted by Mom

back in the dark ages in data entry type things an O was always struck through with a / and a zero was 0. Picking the same applies today.

Pretty sure you'll find it's the other way round on (modern) plates, zeros are struck through while ohs aren't

**=cJ=** · 22nd March 2009, 22:36

Is this you?

HONDA CB 1997 (in Blue)
Plate: 30WLS
Vehicle details

* Make: HONDA
* Model: CB
* Year: 1997
* Submodel: 250F
* Main colour: Blue
* Vehicle type: Motorcycle
* Body style: Motorcycle
* CC rating: 250
* Fuel type: Petrol
* Assembly type: Imported Built-Up
* Country of origin: Japan

**pzkpfw** · 23rd March 2009, 06:12

Way back I worked at Motor Reg. at the same place the help desk was. True story from around then (but paraphrased and the plate's made up):

Helpdesk: Can you tell me your plate number?
Caller: AB123
HD: No, sorry, I can't find that one on the computer.
Caller: But that's what it says on my forms.
(confusion for a while)
HD: OK, I'll try by your name.
C: I'm Mabel Smith
HD: Oh. I've found AB1230
C: Yes, there's a zero on my form too - but they've struck it out.

If there's a slash, it's in the zero. This one sounds like a screw-up at the factory - if comparison with other plates of the same font shows their zeros are slashed.

Originally Posted by frogamic

(I haven't got the bike yet so can't check ...

If it's a home-made plate (or modified) it's not legal. It has to be from the one approved manufacturer.

**CookMySock** · 23rd March 2009, 08:29

Haha, dont touch it! It will be bloody hard to get a ticket with a plate like that.

It occurred to me sometime back, to screw with the fuzz by getting deliberately confusing personalised plates, and yours is a doozy. LOL!

"ahh, no sir, thats not my rego." Cop looks it up - scratches head.. Damn, its not either!

Steve