Number plate laws

samsemtex

Just looking into the law in relation to number plates here. I cant find anything that says number plates are required on the front of the vehicle or any law in relation to their positioning. Can someone direct me to the appropriate legislation please?

GiftGrub100

This would probably be a good place to start:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/vehicle_standards/vehicle_registration_numbers.html

The exact rules regarding the special format of vehicle registration plates are set down in Irish law under the (SI 318/92 Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations 1992 and subsequently amended by SI 432/99 Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Regulations 1999). View images of acceptable vehicle registration plates here. This law outlines the format, dimensions and technical specifications that must be displayed on registered vehicles in Ireland.

The main requirements of the rules about the format of vehicle registration plates are:

The registration number consisting of numbers and letters must be in black on a white reflective background
The name of the county of registration must be in Irish, (examples are Baile Átha Cliath, Corcaigh, etc.)
The flag of the EU and the letters "IRL" must be placed on the left-hand side of the plate, the flag comprising 12 gold stars in a circle, the letters in white beneath it, all on a blue reflective background. No other numbers, letters, marks, etc., should appear on your registration plate.
Vehicle registration plates must be affixed to the front and back of your vehicle and clearly visible at all times. In situations where you are towing a trailer, caravan, etc., a duplicate of the registration plate must be affixed to the back of the trailer, caravan, etc.

Vehicles with only 1 front wheel (i.e., motorcycles) are only required to carry the registration plate on the back of the vehicle.

samsemtex

Thanks, I was having a very brief look through the SI's there and I still cant see anything saying the number plate has to be affixed to the front of the car. I see the part you have high lighted from the citizens information website but i cant see it anywhere in legislation. I may not be looking properly though.

Owen

If you're looking to put them in the windscreen, it's not allowed, or people who put them nearly horizontaly on body kit grill openings - tha's not allowed either.

I think one of our friendly Boardsie Gardaí explained it in detail here before. Might be no harm to do a search.

challengemaster

PaintDoctor wrote: »

If you're looking to put them in the windscreen, it's not allowed, or people who put them nearly horizontaly on body kit grill openings - tha's not allowed either.

I think one of our friendly Boardsie Gardaí explained it in detail here before. Might be no harm to do a search.

Actually, it is - You can have it in the windscreen as long as it's forward facing and "affixed" so it can't move.

Owen

They were pretty specific about that in the last thread I think. People thought it was, but it wasn't IIRC.

thats not gone well

challengemaster wrote: »

Actually, it is - You can have it in the windscreen as long as it's forward facing and "affixed" so it can't move.

indeed there's precedence on this too. in waterford or cork iirc a case was thrown out when a driver was summoned for having the number plate in the window while there was no bumper on the front of the car.

CiniO

samsemtex wrote: »

Thanks, I was having a very brief look through the SI's there and I still cant see anything saying the number plate has to be affixed to the front of the car. I see the part you have high lighted from the citizens information website but i cant see it anywhere in legislation. I may not be looking properly though.

You didn't look throughly enough.

Here it is from SI 318/92

(7) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (8), the identification mark of a vehicle shall be exhibited, in the case of a vehicle which has only one front wheel, on the back of the vehicle and, in the case of any other vehicle, on the front of and on the back of the vehicle in a vertical or nearly vertical position, so that every letter or figure of the identification mark is vertical or nearly vertical and is easily distinguishable, in the case of the letters and figures placed on the front of the vehicle, from in front of the vehicle and in the case of the letters and figures placed on the back of the vehicle, from behind the vehicle.

Cuddlesworth

New vans apparently get a picture of both the front and back so your wasting your time with that line of thinking.

L-M

CiniO to quote your second bit, the "front" of the vehicle to me would mean the front bumper, not in the window which would be the middle of the vehicle?

Or, if you were to take a "front view" of the car, the window would be included. It's still not clearly defined to make it be placed on the front bumper

L-M

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

New vans apparently get a picture of both the front and back so your wasting your time with that line of thinking.

I would of thought it was more for asthetics than fine dodging.

L1011

Limerick man wrote: »

I would of thought it was more for asthetics than fine dodging.

would HAVE. would HAVE. :mad::mad::mad::mad:

CiniO

Limerick man wrote: »

CiniO to quote your second bit, the "front" of the vehicle to me would mean the front bumper, not in the window which would be the middle of the vehicle?

Or, if you were to take a "front view" of the car, the window would be included. It's still not clearly defined to make it be placed on the front bumper

The OP's question was if there needs to be the front plate at all.
That was the anwer for it.

And in relation to your question, I think it's clear enough.
It has to be in the front of the vehicle, in such way that it's vertical or almost vertical, and letters and numbers and easily distinguishable from in front of the vehicle.
Nothing is mentioned that it has to be in the most front part of the vehicle, so it doesn't have to be mounted on the bumper. It can easily be mounted somewhere else. F.E on the hood in vertical position, unless it obstructs drivers view.
I'd say it can't be behind the windscreen, the glass would limit the visibility, and numbers and letters would not be easily distinguishable anymore.

L-M

CiniO wrote: »

The OP's question was if there needs to be the front plate at all.
That was the anwer for it.

And in relation to your question, I think it's clear enough.
It has to be in the front of the vehicle, in such way that it's vertical or almost vertical, and letters and numbers and easily distinguishable from in front of the vehicle.
Nothing is mentioned that it has to be in the most front part of the vehicle, so it doesn't have to be mounted on the bumper. It can easily be mounted somewhere else. F.E on the hood in vertical position, unless it obstructs drivers view.
I'd say it can't be behind the windscreen, the glass would limit the visibility, and numbers and letters would not be easily distinguishable anymore.

I was refering to this part of the OPs post;

samsemtex wrote: »

any law in relation to their positioning.

Also, if tax/insurance discs can be behind the window and still be clearly viewed I can't see why you couldn't have the numberplate behind the window, as long as it fills the other requirements. It is glass at the end of the day.

CiniO

Limerick man wrote: »

Also, if tax/insurance discs can be behind the window and still be clearly viewed I can't see why you couldn't have the numberplate behind the window, as long as it fills the other requirements. It is glass at the end of the day.

Maybe it's written in regulations, that disc must be clearly visible, and number plate must be easily distinguishable.

Discs are so small, that you need to be max couple feet from them to read what they say. It such distance glass doesn't make too much difference.
Number plates might need to be read from 20 - 30 metres or more, so glass especially under the angle, would obstruct the view.

We both saw the regulations, and it's all they say.
Anything else in case of trouble would be up to the judge decision.
I'd say every judge would easily state, that plates behind glass are not easily distinguishable. And that would be it.

That's why I wouldn't advice anyone to mount their plates inside of the cabin.

L-M

CiniO wrote: »

I'd say every judge would easily state, that plates behind glass are not easily distinguishable. And that would be it.

That's why I wouldn't advice anyone to mount their plates inside of the cabin.

I wouldn't do it either, and that's why I'm questioning it. So that I know for the future when lads tell me it's legal to have their numberplates behind the glass, or more commonly on the back of the sunvisor :P