Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Got a $300 fine for my towball slightly obstructing the number plate yesterday I never thought of it being a problem. Cop pointed out it blocks about half a digit if you look from level with the plate, from the side.
Aparrently the cops are cracking down on it . A lot of vitaras have the same rear bar/towbar as mine.
Thought i'd warn everyone and maybe save someone some money and

gee that's rough... should of asked if you removed it there and then could he let you off with a warning?

hmmm could you send the bill to hayman reece, or is it illegal to have a towball fitted when not towing something? sounds a bit shady to me.

Put a Body-lift on problem solved

Bike cop pulled me over asked me to get out with my license by the time i got out he was already writing it up.
Saw the local cops about it today, They said it was redicous and unfair but nothing i can do about it. Looked it up and that's the rule. Said it should really have been a warning or a defect notice to have it off and checked at cop shop in 24hrs and pay the $20 fee or whatever it is. The cop i was talking to even said he'd better take his off when he gets home.

Aperenty the cops in the city are cracking down on it because some people are deliberately obstructing number plates to get away with speeding fines etc. Though i've never seen a camera take a photo from the back.

its most likly more for the red light cameras... the ones at traffic lights .... still screwed though when you seen hotted up skylines and that with screns that stop you seeing them allmost all together.... and they just get off scot free

rediculous... i would bet $4000 000 if a female was driving (or you were wearing a suit) it would have been a warning. These cars are bought and sold like this. its not as if you modified the bar to obstruct your plate.

How long have you had the vehicle?
Was the towball fitted prior to you purchasing the vehicle?
Did you not have to get a roadworthy inspection prior to transfer of registration (we do here in ACT, I thought this was national standard now)?

Why I ask is if your vehicle has withstood a roadworthiness inspection from the RTA or equivalent and they have passed it with the towball in place, a magistrate will be unlikely overrule the RTA for the sake of a motorcycle cop. More likely it will be coceded that an error was made in your road worthy inspection, you should have been notified, thereby giving you the opportunity to rectify, the fine would be removed by the court and a minor defect notice issued to replace it, requiring you to have the vehicle inspected within 28 days (small fee about $35 here).

You could fore arm yourself before challenging the fine by going to the RTA and paying for a roadworthy certificate, with the story that you intend to sell on the provision of a clean RWC. Do not mention the fine, incase they try to save the cops ass. Chances are they will not pick up the towball.

However the bottomline is that the rules have existed for sometime stating that you can not obscure or obliterate a number plate. But as yours can be seen to have not been an intentional breach a warning would have been sufficient.

Good luck.

In Qld numberplate condition or visablilty doesnt come into it on a RWC, dunno bout down there though

It is your responsibility to keep it in clear vision, thats why the tongue unbolts, just accept you did the wrong thing, its not anybody elses fault and fix it for next time and everybody else go check yours

That is so rediculously picky... what goes wrong in a person that would make them pick on something so miniscule like that. I have a dodgy no name brand towbar/ball on my shorty pootrol and it covers some of the number plate. Will get rid of it.

How does that guy feel at night ?? Is he proud of doing that..argg..

maybe we arent hearing the full story..

sounds like he didnt pass the attitude test.... i dont know a single copper that would do you for that unless you mouthed off at them...

maybe im wrong, and you just had a power tripper of a cop pull you up but yeh find it hard to believe you got done for it.

I am meant to show P plates on front and rear of my car when driving, i have been pulled over a few times for not showing them on the rear (when i take my soft top off) and have been let off each time..thats a $100 offence and usually they are harder on P platers.

I agree with crawford. as i have had a copper look at my plates before as they were covered in mud from a mud hole that day.

He just said make sure you clean them and then on your way.

cheers

We don't have RWC in SA at all.

The cop was the one with the attitude problem not me all i said was hi and hang on i'll find my license by the time i got out he was writing it up. I was friendly and polite till he handed me the fine.

Who knows maybe it was because my car was loaded up for a holiday or maybe that i was wearing nothing but shorts cos i'd just been on the beach. Or he was just pissed off about working sunday afternoon on a nice day.


Anyway there's nothing i can do about it. Was warning everyone else.

i got fined for the same thing in my old seirra, only reason he did me was because i was speeding but he could'nt prove it ( not everyday a 'stock' seirra beats a patrol car down a straight section of road hey)
mind you, you had to walk back 30 meters and squat before the towball obscured the numberplate