Member Article

West Yorkshire lawyer highlights legal concerns surrounding non-compliant car registration plates

Unsuspecting motorists could be fined up to £1,000 if they fall foul of little-known rules regarding their number plates, according to Bob Howe, partner at West Yorkshire law firm John Howe & Co. Issues primarily arise when individuals opt to install private plates on their vehicles that do not comply with the established regulations. However, there are other rules that should be followed which affect all car registration plates. A discrepancy exists within the regulations, as plates are restricted to only two colours. For example, the introduction of a green section for electric cars and the inclusion of the Union Jack logo on GB plates, have created a technical violation of the rules. These additions exceed the two-colour limit specified by the regulations. To date, the rules have not been updated to account for these changes. They currently state that: • The plates must be made from a reflective material. • The front plate should display black characters on a white background. • The rear plate should display black characters on a yellow background. • The plates should not include a background pattern. • They must be marked to indicate the plate supplier. • They must bear the British Standard number, which is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021. • The characters must not be removable or reflective. • If the plates were fitted after 1 September 2021, they must also be a single shade of black. Bob Howe is urging motorists to be aware of these regulations and ensure their registration plates comply accordingly. “I have noticed a growing number of motorists facing penalties due to non-compliant registration plates,” said Bob Howe. “The regulations surrounding number plates are in need of an update to reflect recent changes in the automotive landscape. Although the authorities do not appear to be enforcing these regulations in their entirety at the moment, the Police are now cracking down on the lack of British standard number and details of the supplier of the plates in order to restrict the supply of unregulated plates. In the interim, it is crucial for vehicle owners to familiarise themselves with the existing rules to avoid unnecessary fines and legal complications.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by News Gathering .