Bug Screen Warning

The BrokenHill police have said that a number of times in our local newspaper that cars with bug mesh covering the number plate will be booked

ouch expensive

Now that all states are moving to number plate identification technology in police vehicles, number plates are becoming increasingly significant in real-time policing. The number plate is the on-road "proof" of current rego. Stickers are out.

Instead of pulling you over and asking a few questions then going off to do some radio work to get your rego status, it's all done with smart in-vehicle cameras looking at your plate and a computer link to provide the result. Mr Plod doesn't like it if you break his system, so if you cover your plates you pay.

Actually, obscured or unreadable plates was always an offence, but not really stomped upon until the recent advent of mobile plate-reading technology.

Cheers

You will also need to be aware of your tow ball. If it is anywhere close to obstructing the plate, even just a little, your done.
A friend got done for this a little over a year ago. The ball itself was centre, so looking at it straight on, all digits could be read. A little to the side, obscured it a little.


Parking inspectors are using cameras as well to see who over stays their parking spot. I asked one the other day how they do bikes as most are reversed in towards the gutter. He said they have to get out and manually look. Also admitted they don't often bother with this.

You can also get done for home made plates on a bike rack. In NSW anyway, they must be either the original plate moved to the rack or an RTA issued bike rack plate.

I think that this is a problem associated with today's habit of learning the answers in order to pass the exam. Not why the rule exists. I learnt that the number plate should be legible at all time. Now that is so simple to understand.

It therefore follows that for one to cover it with a tow ball, fly or bug screen, pushbike rack (eye picker outers) or anything at all for that matter, shows that there is something missing upstairs. It beats me! Such a simple rule.

As a thread that I enjoyed the other day would put it: "a six pack short of a carton".

Phil

I wonder what the difference is between a number plate covered with a bug screen or a number plate covered in bugs. I have had mine covered with bugs to the unreadable stage in the past. Wonder what Mr Plod would have said to me. Bob

NSW (and Vic?) rules

As far as I was aware flat clear covers are ok & bubbled or coloured lenses are out I don't have any so no worries.

Thanks PeterH,

What I find a bit interesting is that the Police would know your driving record as, presumably, the system gives them access to it. If he/she took the time to tell you about the appeal process, why not (in light of your record) just give you a warning? Now I know that the law is the law, but what you would hope nowadays, with the Police having instant access to all sorts of information on the spot, is that it might (?) give them a little room for some discretion in these matters. If they issue a warning, then surely this is recorded. If you then get pulled over three weeks down the track for the same offence, then you deserve the fine.

Access to this kind of data should work both ways a bit, allowing Police to identify and target high risk cases, non-registration offences, outstanding fines, repeat offenders, etc. But conversely, surely it offers some scope for discretion as well? Bearing in mind that the ultimate outcome is not revenue raising, but to ensure that people are operating vehicles in a safe and legal manner. Fines and points are a deterrent, but sometimes a quiet chat or stern word from the Police meets the same end.

Cheers,

Matt.

George, Re Candy, I take that Peter meant a brightly coloured police car, here in SA we do not have the brightly coloured Police cars ( Lolliepop) as in NSW. Maybe these brightly coloured vehicles are for main roads policing.

Re [You can also get done for home made plates on a bike rack. In NSW anyway, they must be either the original plate moved to the rack or an RTA issued bike rack plate.]

Have a Homemade plate on our Bike rack same small size as Rego issued plate with Block Numbers an letters, but painted in Flat Black Not Gloss Black, so hope that rule only applies to NSW residents not interstaters.

there was a blue healers episode where the Sergeant, Senior Sergeant went on holiday and a relief Sergeant came to town and he booked every one walking around with tape measure lots of parking tickets.

I often wondered if this came from a real life situation of one of the writers lol

Gday,
So why didn't he just give you a warning and waver the fine himself???