Revenue clampdown on dodgy number plates.

Our man in Havana

I read in todays indo (page 6 compact version)that the revenue are going after chancers with non standard number plates. Fines of up to €1,265 can be imposed. The article goes on to say that the revenue are making nationwide mobile patrols to catch these and also VRT evaders.

I hear they are heading straight to Donegal in search of the dodgy plates:D

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1380675&issue_id=12360

Blitz means number's up for trendy but illegal car plates
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THE number is up for thousands of motorists. They face fines of up to €1,265 if their number plates fail the Revenue Commissioner test.

Mobile Revenue Commissioners patrols have just begun a countrywide blitz on illegal car numberplates.

It is part of a joint campaign also designed to target owners of secondhand vehicles, in particular, who have not paid Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).

It means the end of the road for the glitzy digits and letters which so often adorn sports cars and souped-up hot hatches.

These have become increasingly popular with the rise in economic prosperity and the proliferation of accessories for personalisation of cars.

Only two number plate formats will be allowed, a Revenue Commissioner spokesman confirmed to the Irish Independent - the regular, oblong plate and a deeper square design - and they must be strictly adhered to.

All others, including names and numbers in italics, or in special colours, or plates with sliver numbering and black background, for example, are illegal.

The numbers and letters must be in black on a white reflective background.

The name of the county of registration has to be in Irish at the top of the plate.

And the circular 12-gold-star flag of the European Communities and the letters 'IRL' have to be on the left-hand side of the plate.

The Revenue spokesman said offending owners would be tracked down and fined if they did not meet the legal format.

When contacted by the Irish Independent, a number of garages quoted prices of between €20 to €30 for a new set of plates, though prices can vary quite a bit.

The other major arm of the Revenue campaign is to detect cars that have not been registered here.

That means VRT has not been paid on these vehicles and the Exchequer is being deprived of thousands of euro in most cases.

But there is still time for those with illegal plates.

The Revenue say the details of vehicles with illegal number plates will be recorded and the driver will be given an information leaflet.

They will subsequently get a call from the commissioners.

"We will definitely check out the vehicle afterwards," the spokesman said.

"Follow-up action will be taken to ensure the owners of those vehicles identified display legal number plates."

If owners do not comply, they can be prosecuted and fined as much as €1,265.

Eddie Cunningham
Motoring Correspondent

madrab

finally

Alun

madrab wrote:

finally

I agree, about time too, but why is it the Revenue who are checking up on dodgy plates and not the Gardai??

fjon

I wonder will this guy have to change his plates?

http://img256.echo.cx/my.php?image=carrickmines0018vo.jpg

Boggle

agree, about time too, but why is it the Revenue who are checking up on dodgy plates and not the Gardai??

Because the standard plates can be picked up by OCR easier... makes it easier to give you a speeding ticket.

Alun

Boggle wrote:

Because the standard plates can be picked up by OCR easier... makes it easier to give you a speeding ticket.

I know why "they" are doing this, for the same reason as dirty plates are illegal in some countries (not sure about Ireland though), my point is why is it the Revenue that are doing this? I mean, it's not the Revenue who are responsible for collecting speeding fines, is it?

Bogger77

Alun wrote:

I know why "they" are doing this, for the same reason as dirty plates are illegal in some countries (not sure about Ireland though), my point is why is it the Revenue that are doing this? I mean, it's not the Revenue who are responsible for collecting speeding fines, is it?

The plate is issued by Revenue, when you register your car, and pay the VRT etc. The registration plate is their baby.

Alun

Bogger77 wrote:

The plate is issued by Revenue, when you register your car, and pay the VRT etc. The registration plate is their baby.

OK, I suppose that makes some sense in a twisted, uniquely Irish, kind of way

Paul (MN)

I think this is a complete waste of time. Surely they have better things to do then chase people with the wrong font on a number plate?????

They are probably going to spend more doing this than they will take in.

I know rules are rules and plates have to have a standard shape/size etc but a "blitz" on them????

peasant

I'd suppose the "blitz" really is designed to catch all those foreign reg. cars that are dodging VRT. As they alone probably don't warrant the cost and effort of a real clamp down (road blocks etc) somebody decided to kill two birds with one stone and get a bit of cash-flow from all the non-standard Irish plates as well.

Ray777

I'm glad they're doing this. I don't care who does it - whether it's the Gardai, Revenue Commissioners or the St John's Ambulance. I'm sick and tired of being cut up by tossers, driving souped-up Mitsubishis, with illegible number plates.

Guy:Incognito

Paul (MN) wrote:

I think this is a complete waste of time. Surely they have better things to do then chase people with the wrong font on a number plate??????

Surely people should do the right thing and have proper number plates in the first place, illegal is illegal.

Ratchet

would this not only apply to cars from 1991 on?

Paul (MN)

illegal is illegal, but surely they have better things to do with taxpayers money than chase dodgy number plates?

I would estimate that at any one time there is less than .5% of the cars on the road with illegal number plates. By going after them they are going to achieve little financially, and lots of "nanny state" style publicity.

And if we are to believe the sweeping generalisation that all people with different number plates are boy racers.... what makes you think that having the correct font on the number plate is going to make them a safer driver???

parsi

Paul (MN) wrote:

illegal is illegal, but surely they have better things to do with taxpayers money than chase dodgy number plates?

All well and good until someone gets knocked down and the plate can't be read by the witnesses .... plates are designed to be readable for a reason.

Ratchet

Ratchet wrote:

would this not only apply to cars from 1991 on?

It's important to note that the rules regarding the special format of vehicle registration plates do not apply to vehicles that were registered prior to 1 January 1991 or to vehicles registered in the "ZV", "ZZ" or Trade Licence series.


some number plates look OK but some are well OTT.

not going to change mine before actual NCT


they are after unpaid VRT and reg plates are only extra

BrianD

It's not a case of "going after" people. All the revenue is doing is informing the public that this is the standard and this is the fine if you don't adhere to the standard and you will fail your NCT. The Gardai can't stop people nor can the NCT fail people if the standards are not made public.

No doubt this is also going to cater for other interests - those supplying and using OCR/number plates readers for speed detection and car parking. Having said that, standard number plates will be useless unless there is a law requiring that they be clean and visible!

the evil belly

suppose this means i'll have to change mine again. don't see why though. had em made using the standard font, nothing fancy, it's just a plain white plate, no flag, no county, no border etc. don't see how that makes it hard to read but anyway

camarobill

i wouldint be to worried about them inforceing this,usual hot air b...s..t,deal with all the eastern europe cars first,no the cant do that so thell get us soft gob....s,ur points are all true,but is there no end to this,do as i say,and not as i do crap, :mad: :mad: granny state :rolleyes:

causal

Ratchet wrote:

It's important to note that the rules regarding the special format of vehicle registration plates do not apply to vehicles that were registered prior to 1 January 1991 or to vehicles registered in the "ZV", "ZZ" or Trade Licence series.

Do you have a reference to that, or any idea where I could get a reference?

thx,
causal

Curran

Ray777 wrote:

I'm glad they're doing this. I don't care who does it - whether it's the Gardai, Revenue Commissioners or the St John's Ambulance. I'm sick and tired of being cut up by tossers, driving souped-up Mitsubishis, with illegible number plates.

Ray are you stupid...fancy plates or not the guys in their souped up cars are still going to cut up up! And its probably cos you think YOU own the road!
Everyone gets cut up....taxi's, buses, idoits in their flashy cars (MERC's) cut people up all the time....never seen a souped up Dublin Bus before!
Getting cut up is a part of they way irish people drive......try driving in France you'd have a heart attack!

Dont understand the irish mentality...our roads are falling to bits all over the country, people are getting killed though speeding, not wearing seatbelts, on the phone etc. and they are worried about people with fancy number plates! Whats the world coming to???

Answer this - How much:
is a speeding fine?
is a fine for breaking a red light?
is a fine for no seatbelt?
is a fine for no tax?
is a fine for no NCT?

And they are going to fine people with a fancy number plate 1,265 Euro?
SAD

Curran

My neighbour is in his 50's....was drivin home from a weekend away...seen a garda car drive by him...few minutes later the same cop car had turned around and pulled him over ...
Cop says "you know those plates are illegal"
Neighbour says "Yeah"
Cop says "you know that i gives a bad image - you look like a boy racer"
Neighbour say "im in my 50's, have grey hair, i'm driving an Astra, and the only thing that makes me look like a boy racer is my plates....have you nothing better to be doing??"
........with that my neighbour pulls off and leaves the cop standing there!

And the only thing wrong was his plates...no tinted windows, alloys, car was taxed and insured etc etc!

What a waste of time!!

Had the cops been on the side of the road with a speed camera they would have caught at least 10 people speeding...(in the time it took them to turn around catch up and give out)
And who knows they may have even saved someones life......priceless in my books!!! But the 1,265 Euro is worth more to the government!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

unkel

peasant wrote:

I'd suppose the "blitz" really is designed to catch all those foreign reg. cars that are dodging VRT

Yup reckon same. Also the dodging of motor tax on the same cars, be they from the Baltic states or from the UK

Am I alone in observing that the majority of new(ish) €100000+ cars driving in Ireland have a UK reg?

Curran

unkel wrote:

Yup reckon same. Also the dodging of motor tax on the same cars, be they from the Baltic states or from the UK

Am I alone in observing that the majority of new(ish) €100000+ cars driving in Ireland have a UK reg?

I seen them aswell........but if thats the case why dont they say they are out to get the VRT.....thats understandable....loads of money owed their!

unkel

Curran wrote:

why dont they say they are out to get the VRT

They are saying that. The emphasis on the illegal plates is journo sensationalism no doubt

Kimbot

lads I would say pay it and not have the hassel of being pulled all the time cos tht is crap!!!!!

ds20prefecture

Ratchet wrote:

It's important to note that the rules regarding the special format of vehicle registration plates do not apply to vehicles that were registered prior to 1 January 1991 or to vehicles registered in the "ZV", "ZZ" or Trade Licence series.

Hmmm. My car was registered in 2002, but is a 72D reg.

Does that mean I need an ugly white and blue one?

Bogger77

ds20prefecture wrote:

Hmmm. My car was registered in 2002, but is a 72D reg.

Does that mean I need an ugly white and blue one?

If you have a 72 Plate, you can use any style of plate that was valid from 1972 onwards, if I remember correctly. I always liked the black and silver ones.

themole

shouldn't there be a clamp down on those supplying illegal plates?

would it not make more sense to fine garages etc who supply illegal plates?

when my mother was getting a new car, galway reg, she asked if she could get a plate with an old irish/engligh style G, they said no problem.

when the car turned up with a normal plate they said the other one was illegal anyway, they mever mentioned this when she ordered the car.

Ratchet

themole wrote:

shouldn't there be a clamp down on those supplying illegal plates?

would it not make more sense to fine garages etc who supply illegal plates?

when my mother was getting a new car, galway reg, she asked if she could get a plate with an old irish/engligh style G, they said no problem.

when the car turned up with a normal plate they said the other one was illegal anyway, they mever mentioned this when she ordered the car.

it's your choice anyway


here is reference

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/transport/motoring/vehicle_registration_numbers.html

Seth Brundle

fjon wrote:

I wonder will this guy have to change his plates?

http://img256.echo.cx/my.php?image=carrickmines0018vo.jpg

looks photoshopped!

Esel

ds20prefecture wrote:

Hmmm. My car was registered in 2002, but is a 72D reg.

Does that mean I need an ugly white and blue one?

AFAIR, *any* car (except ZZ etc) *registered* here in 1991 or later has to have the standard plates.

Turner

Curran wrote:

Answer this - How much:
is a speeding fine?
is a fine for breaking a red light?
is a fine for no seatbelt?
is a fine for no tax?
is a fine for no NCT?

And they are going to fine people with a fancy number plate 1,265 Euro?
SAD

Speeding fine -in court you can be fined up to E800 (first offence)
red light -same
no seatbelt -same
no tax -same
no nct -same

For plates, it is that you can be fined up to 1,265 euro.

Most judges would only fine 150-300 euro for any of the above unless you act the prick with him, then hed prob fine you full whack.

Capt'n Midnight

Curran wrote:

And they are going to fine people with a fancy number plate 1,265 Euro?
SAD

Would you rather pay the VRT again ??

I've seen scripted plates that very difficult to read at a glance compared to normal ones for a human never mind a speed camera. But I'd reckon they should also start making noises about dirty plates during winter about 1/4 of the rear plates were barely legible.

Capt'n Midnight

kbannon wrote:

looks photoshopped!

naw it's just the reflective surface / flash.

blastman

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

Would you rather pay the VRT again ??

I've seen scripted plates that very difficult to read at a glance compared to normal ones for a human never mind a speed camera. But I'd reckon they should also start making noises about dirty plates during winter about 1/4 of the rear plates were barely legible.

Yeah, they might start making contractors, etc. hose down their trucks and tractors before taking them out on to the road, maybe? Because life's like that here, they always go after a fair solution. Not after the driver who's is fed up to the back teeth washing his car in winter to see it destroyed with dirt after one day's driving to and from work, surely!?

This stuff about plates is complete toss, IMO. The rules could be more flexible while still ensuring all numbers are legible.

causal

Ratchet wrote:

here is reference
http://www.oasis.gov.ie/transport/motoring/vehicle_registration_numbers.html

Thanks for that

causal

Curran

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

Would you rather pay the VRT again ??

Why would i have to pay the VRT for just having fancy number plates???
My car is irish and always has been......dont mind if they are out to get VRT from forgein cars......just think its a waste of time going out to get lads with fancy number plates.....like my plates are in italics...easy to read by human or speed camera.....and there are going to fine me up to 1265 euro for having them plates??

Silvera

ds20prefecture wrote:

Hmmm. My car was registered in 2002, but is a 72D reg.

Does that mean I need an ugly white and blue one?

'Fraid so ds20prefecture !

The regulations state that ANY vehicle registered on or after 1st January 1991 must display their reg on a 'euro' plate.

(Exceptions = ZZ plates, ZV plates, Trade Plates (gov issued anyway!), Military Vehicles and Buses (though most buses opt for euro plates)).

However, having said that, I doubt they will be too concerned with classic cars - their main targets are probably 'boy racers' and foreign-reg vehicles.

N.B. - You could always get a ZV reg for your DS and so use silver-on-black plates ?!

---

As usual the Revenue failed to be specific and state that certain vehicles are exempt from euro plates, i.e. ZV, ZZ, etc.

(For anybody who doesn't know, ZZ registrations (e.g. ZZ 10100) are temporary registrations valid for one month only. Usually issued to those exporting an unregistered vehicle from Ireland)

greglo23

the 1265 Euro fine also applies to the makers of the plates but i doubt the revenue will fine them. if they fined one or two plate manufacturers the illegal plate problem would go away very quickly.

rooferPete

What about the numbering system itself ?

I mean what half a## came up with the idea that a witness to an accident or other road offence could remember a 5 digit number ?

I would lay money on it that when the Guards ask for reg numbers the most people can remember is 00 D 3 or was it 8xxx ?

I can't even remember my own reg numbers let alone the numbers of another car, and no I'm not a blind 80 something wondering if I will get a licence renewal next year.

What I can remember is the three letters and three numbers that I had on most of the cars and vans I had before the new system came in.

The powers that be would be serving us all better if they allowed personalised plates like the UK or one plate for life like the German system (as I understand it).

Silvera

I've often thought the same thing - it must be very difficult for most people to recall a 9 digit registration (e.g. 04-D-1*****) as opposed to the old system with a maximum of 6 digits (e.g. SI 4256, ASI 321, etc etc) ??!

causal

tbh I actually like the current system compared to the old one.

I think the year and county bit (e.g. 00-D) is much easier to remember than MZH, SZS etc. etc.
Fair enough though, remembering 5 digits is one more digit than the old system.
But even if you only remember 4 of the digits - that narrows it down to ten cars

Also you can tell exactly where and when a vehicle was first registered.
(Coz Dubs like me would never buy a country car )

causal

Silvera

causal wrote:

..... remembering 5 digits is one more digit than the old system.

causal

5 digits ???

With the current system you may have to remember 9 digits ! (e.g. 00-D-123123), whereas the old system had a max of 6 digits (e.g. Dublin reg SI 2463).


I also suspect that there are studies out there that say the average person can recall a reg better if it has a roughly even mix of letters and numbers.
(i.e. our current system plates have more numbers than letters).


The UK carried out plate recognition studies, so perhaps that is why their plates (usually) have as many/more letters than numbers (e.g. current UK reg format = OY04 BEK)

Curran

IMO
I think they should be allowed have the fancys plates (in italics or something) like 04 - D - 12345
AND

We should also have customised number plates like in the UK like i seen on a golf P23 GQLF

Surely it would be easier for someone to remember it was a golf with a reg plate that read something like XXX Golf or it was a 04 D 12xxx but had fancy plates......and this would help narrow down investigations into accients and incidents

murphaph

I hate our system. It ages cars unnecessarilly. I like the german system the best. M*123 ABC where M is Munich or whatever city/county issued the plate, * is the tax and TUV (NCT) stickers and the number and letter combinations are up to the applicant if available or they can take a randomly issued combination. Impossible to tell the year of the car from the plate-perfect.

Funny story, you can't select 'special' letter combinations in germany. For example, SS, SA and various other nazi related abbreviations. In Cologne (Köln) however you get a K as your first letter. You can then select 2 more K's if you like! Somebody has registered KKK 666. You're asking for trouble with that plate mate!

Our old system (which by the way was exactly the same system used by NI as established within the Motor car Act of 1904, did you know a in a NI plate like OIL 123 the L is Fermanagh and the I is IRELAND! The O is arbitrary) ran out of combinations so we had no choice but to set up a new system.

Incidentally, Malta also ran out of numbers a few years ago. They had a Labour government who were all set to take them into the EU so the EU gave them permission to start a new system with the stars and the letter M underneath before they were even members! The Labour government lost the next election and their opposition did not take them into the EU. Maltese cars drove for years with EU plates without even being members, now that's fcuked up.

I'm glad revenue are targetting both VRT and legal plate evaders. The law's the law. Obey it. You never ever see dodgy plates in germany because the local authority gives you your plates-you can't go to a motor factors and just get a set 'made-up'. My dad owned a motor factors for years-he was warned around 1991 that he and any customers he supplied with incorrect plates would be subject to a IR£1000 fine. It's about time it was enforced. You shouldn't be able to stroll into a factors and order any old plates-I'm thinking about false plates used in bank robberies etc. here.

Curran

murphaph wrote:

You shouldn't be able to stroll into a factors and order any old plates-I'm thinking about false plates used in bank robberies etc. here.

I agree with the fact that you shouldnt be able to stroll in and get plates made there and then without showing proof!

As regards the fancy plates on souped up cars....
Lads (& ladies) will take off the fancy plates and buy the proper LEGAL plates....but wont place them on their bumpers....
Guys with bodykits, flushed boots, new paintjobs wont drill holes their new jobs to put standard plates on them...they'll put them on their back windows....
Correct me if im wrong but there is no specific place where ur number plate has to be?
And what about the new ALFA's....how are they getting away with having their number plates on the right hand side on the front (as you look at it)?

murphaph

Curran wrote:

...they'll put them on their back windows....
Correct me if im wrong but there is no specific place where ur number plate has to be?

Pretty sure there are no legal requirements for the actual position of the plate, so long as rear plates are illuminated at night and clearly visible at all times, no probs. They should go after dickheads with spots on all the time, even when their main beams are dipped. Driving lamps are all supposed to be level, only fog lights can be lower than your headlights by law (rarely enforced, sadly).

Curran

murphaph wrote:

Pretty sure there are no legal requirements for the actual position of the plate, so long as rear plates are illuminated at night and clearly visible at all times, no probs. They should go after dickheads with spots on all the time, even when their main beams are dipped. Driving lamps are all supposed to be level, only fog lights can be lower than your headlights by law (rarely enforced, sadly).

Was thinking there was no legal requirements......you have guys using NEON's to light up the plates then!

You giving out about guys that drive with fog lamps on or the guys that put on non standard massive rally style lights on their cars like below

http://harveyjoseph.net/archives/2004/12/moss_rally_ligh_1.html

murphaph

Curran wrote:

You giving out about guys that drive with fog lamps on or the guys that put on non standard massive rally style lights on their cars like below

http://harveyjoseph.net/archives/2004/12/moss_rally_ligh_1.html

No, those are actually perfectly legal as they are in-line with the vehicle headlights (so long as they switch off when on dipped beam!). I'm complaining about foglights left on all the time (when there's no fog!) and spots not mounted as per the legal requirements (as the good mini owner has done in your pic).

Curran

Ah right.....get what ya mean now!!

Yeah but you still get lads with them extra spots that arent aligned right and blind the F**K outa ya!

Anyways......thats getting off the point of the auld REG plates!