Thin Ice

I am currently on nine points and I keep getting speed camera tickets. What would happen if I changed my number plate? James Griffiths - Llandudno Wells

Answer

First of all, you have got to get caught. If you ride a bike and you get tugged, the police can easily check whether or not you are the registered keeper of the vehicle and if you are not, they will be asking why. They can easily check it against your VIN number and your tax disc, so if you ride in a style which is likely to draw police attention to you, it is almost inevitable that you are going to get found out. If you do get caught doing this it is a serious offence and it is Customs & Excise that will prosecute you, not the police. You can receive up to two years in prison. It's a fact that the Courts take a very dim view of false number plates. You are actually better off without any number plate at all as that is a non endorsable offence, but obviously you are going to attract a lot of unwarranted police attention. Changing the letters or numbers on your number plate is a very stupid idea. Much better ideas are either slowing down near speed cameras, getting a bike friendly GPS speed camera detector, (both of which are relatively cheap and legal), the third option is to leave your bike in the garage until some of your points have fallen off. Of 'clever ideas' to avoid detection, changing your number plate is about the worst. Riding around with no number plate on is a less serious criminal offence, but expect to be tugged by every single police patrol vehicle that sees you. The police are wise to this one and they will know if you are regularly riding around without a number plate and they will make special efforts to catch you. Andrew Dalton