Painted on Registration Plates

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2004
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Thomas Beagle

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by Thomas Beagle » Tue Dec 07, 2004 1:19 pm

So,

The front license plate fell off again. <sigh>

The whole nose of the car needs repainting anyway - what's the legality
of getting the registration plate painted on as well?

And, for those of you who have done it, have you ever had any hassles
with the police?

Thanks,.

Thomas

pauls

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by pauls » Tue Dec 07, 2004 2:07 pm

Hi,

I've got a sticker plate on the front of my MX5 (see picture on the link
below).

I got a local signwriter to make it with a reflective white background, it
cost about $25.

I've since been pulled over 3 or 4 times for random breath / Rego & WOF
checks, with no comment being made; this included one particularly grumpy cop
who didn't like the way I had my driving lights set at the time.

http://miata.cardomain.com/id/xu8678

Regards
Pal Siddles


Quoting Thomas Beagle <thomas@thomasbeagle.net>:

[...]

zorruno
Black is the new black.
Black is the new black.
Posts: 601
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm
Location: An Eastern Beach

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by zorruno » Tue Dec 07, 2004 2:43 pm

Quoting Thomas Beagle <thomas@thomasbeagle.net>:
The front license plate fell off again. <sigh> The whole nose of
the car needs repainting anyway - what's the legality of getting
the registration plate painted on as well?
on 7/12/2004 2:07 p.m. pauls@paradise.net.nz wrote:
I've got a sticker plate on the front of my MX5 (see picture on the
link below). I've since been pulled over 3 or 4 times for random
breath / Rego & WOF checks, with no comment being made; this included
one particularly grumpy cop who didn't like the way I had my driving
lights set at the time.
Hi Thomas

The law is still not specific enough, but past incidents have shown that
you may get away with it, or you may get a $200 fine. Your call if you
want to risk getting a warning or a fine. In saying that however, I
don't know of anyone being fined or even warned yet in or around Wellington.

I've been threatened with fines, been given 2 fines (that I've got off)
and had to pay one fine. For a number of reasons, I gave up the
rebellion and put the proper plate back a couple of years ago. There
are still people I know if with non-original stick-one or no front
plate, but generally they either:
a) are lucky
b) don't get their car out much
c) don't drive around Auckland city
d) look older and less boy-racerish
e) don't live near a police station (unlike our last 2 houses!)

If it ever got to court, I'd put money on the fact that you would lose,
as there is enough words in various codes to set doubt on the legality
of stick-ons (i.e. from memory - reflective, aluminium, vertical,
original issue).

Something I wrote a few years back is here, before I put the plate back:
http://www.mx5club.org.nz/members/fox/plates/

And the argument I have heard from people before of nowhere to mount a
front plate is bogus, as Mazda sell a specific plate mount bracket for
the nose.

Cheers zorruno

PS - Paul, don't get me started on driving lights :)
(z)

poison
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Posts: 530
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:47 pm
Location: JAFA Land

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by poison » Tue Dec 07, 2004 4:53 pm

When I was talking with the LTSA about some lights on my car
I asked about this and the guy said it had to be the
officially manufactured plate, nothing else would be
accepted. But he also acknowledged that most cops would not
care. But of course should you get pulled over and the
officer can't decide on that speeding (or something) ticket,
this could well tip the scales.

Gazza

"PO1SON"


[...]
:twisted: Gazda in the white HOT Mazda :twisted:

Ian Chapman

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by Ian Chapman » Tue Dec 07, 2004 5:36 pm

We got a stick on front plate made about 4 years ago - reflective
background with black border and font similar to original, about 80% of
full size. Had no problems until I got pulled over for speeding a few
years back. The officer said he would also give me a fine for the
illegal front plate (I recall about $400). I managed to sweet talk my
way out of that, but still got the speeding fine. I put the original
plate back on - which fortunately hides the stick on so it's there if I
get brave enough to use it again.

A guy at work has a Fraser (Lotus 7 replica) and he doesn't have a
front plate and gets no problems. He is in the Constructors Car Club
and generally their members find - if you behave you are usually okay.
They are illegal, however, most cops will ignore unless they stop you
for something else - and want to get you for more - often if you have an
attitude.

One issue mentioned by officials regarding no front plate is: where is
the other original plate? You could have 2 MX5's same colour and only
one registered but both with a real back plate.

Decide if you are willing to take the risk!

zorruno
Black is the new black.
Black is the new black.
Posts: 601
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm
Location: An Eastern Beach

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by zorruno » Tue Dec 07, 2004 5:50 pm

on 7/12/2004 4:53 p.m. poison wrote:
But of course should you get pulled over and the officer can't decide
on that speeding (or something) ticket, this could well tip the
scales.
True story. A conversation overheard the other week on State Highway 1
somewhere north of the Bombay Hills:

Cop: Excuse me sir, I believe you were going a little fast.
Gazza: Do you mind if I see the proof on your radar?
Cop: Oh. Umm, well that roll bar is definitely against
the law. It is too close to the driver's head. I'll
just write you out...
Gazza: It isn't actually a roll bar. It is a style bar. Pure
styleeness only and not part of the car's structure.
Cop: Well I know you'll never get a warrant with your boy racer
car that height. You've cut your springs haven't you. I
could order you off the road for that.
Gazza: Actually, I did just get a warrant. The shocks are
adjustable height, and the other side of the car is slightly
sitting in a ditch at the moment. See? The lowest part is over
100mm easily.
Cop: (Opens bonnet) Yes, ahh, well that intake on your engine
isn't legal anyway. It goes straight through the
firewall. Very Dangerous. A structural disaster waiting to
happen. You won't be able to drive this home today - I'll stick
this sticker on the windscreen and you can call a tow...
Gazza: Hang on, I had that approved when I went for my warrant.
Here is the letter from a certified engineer if you'd like to
have a look.
Cop: Aha!!! Illegal Driving Lights! You could BLIND someone!
Gazza: Mazda factory standard. And they only come on with high beam.
Cop: Ahh, weeellll, mmmmmm, okaaay then... $200 for that front number
plate sticker then. By the way, ever thought of painting your
car British Racing Green? That'd be much nicer than silver.
Have a nice day.

:)
(z)

nairbc

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by nairbc » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:44 pm

Hi I had a licence plate put on my mx5 by a sign writer. Police stopped me in
Te Puke ,he told me it was not legal.$200.00 fine. He said the police were
clamping down on unlegal plate as speed cameras cant get readable phote of the
plates..Brian

[...]

Janet & Jeff Curtin

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by Janet & Jeff Curtin » Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:20 pm

I have had a "stuck on" number plate for about a year and have done many
k,s including a south Island roadtrip, its of correct size lettering on
proper colouring backgroundand,

I have had no problems untill sunday when a young traffic officer parked
on the Hutt motorway pulled out with bells and whistles going and pulled
me over to tell me that it was not of the correct manufacturing code blah
blah blah, even though he admitted it was better than 90% of legal plates
for clarity etc.

We then had quite an animated discussion untill I pulled out my plate
from under my seat to show him {it has a couple pieces of dble sided
tape on it} so I slapped it over top of the sticky one which seemed to
placate him and he put away his ticketing book, I have now bent the
original plate to suit the nose of the car and stuck it on.

Got a pic of the sticky one on link below.

http://www.cardomain.com/id/kiwihunta

From: pauls@paradise.net.nz
Reply-To: MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Painted on Registration Plates
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 14:07:54 +1300 (NZDT)

Hi,

I've got a sticker plate on the front of my MX5 (see picture on the link
below).

I got a local signwriter to make it with a reflective white background, it
cost about $25.

I've since been pulled over 3 or 4 times for random breath / Rego & WOF
checks, with no comment being made; this included one particularly grumpy cop
who didn't like the way I had my driving lights set at the time.

http://miata.cardomain.com/id/xu8678

Regards
Pal Siddles

Quoting Thomas Beagle <thomas@thomasbeagle.net>:

[...]

Janet & Jeff Curtin

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by Janet & Jeff Curtin » Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:28 pm

Well Paul that looks bloody good to me, just hope you don't get some
pedantic a /hole like I did who hasn't got his 1 contact per hour when
you tootle past.

Cheers Jeff.

From: pauls@paradise.net.nz
Reply-To: MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Painted on Registration Plates
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 14:07:54 +1300 (NZDT)

Hi,

I've got a sticker plate on the front of my MX5 (see picture on the link
below).

I got a local signwriter to make it with a reflective white background, it
cost about $25.

I've since been pulled over 3 or 4 times for random breath / Rego & WOF
checks, with no comment being made; this included one particularly grumpy cop
who didn't like the way I had my driving lights set at the time.

http://miata.cardomain.com/id/xu8678

Regards
Pal Siddles

Quoting Thomas Beagle <thomas@thomasbeagle.net>:

[...]

Janet & Jeff Curtin

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by Janet & Jeff Curtin » Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:21 pm

zorruno do all Mazda dealers have the mounting surround ? neighbour has
one on his mx5 that was on his car when imported into N.Z. I haven't seen
another like it.

Cheers Jeff.

From: zorruno <admin@mx5forum.co.nz>
Reply-To: MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Painted on Registration Plates
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 14:43:44 +1300

If it ever got to court, I'd put money on the fact that you would lose,
as there is enough words in various codes to set doubt on the legality
of stick-ons (i.e. from memory - reflective, aluminium, vertical,
original issue).

Something I wrote a few years back is here, before I put the plate back:
http://www.mx5club.org.nz/members/fox/plates/

And the argument I have heard from people before of nowhere to mount a
front plate is bogus, as Mazda sell a specific plate mount bracket for
the nose.

Cheers zorruno

PS - Paul, don't get me started on driving lights :)

From narakukasai@gmail.com Fri Apr 27 18:35:47 2007
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Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 23:20:53 +1300
From: Rahotep Henceforth <narakukasai@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Painted on Registration Plates
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Slightly ontopic - Does anyone know if I can buy/get hold of one of
these "plastic mounting devices" for my plate? If so, how much will I
be set back? Since I bought it my MX has had a horrible metal
contraption holding it up which has sctrached the paintwork badly
(though it can't be seen, but still!). I would love to replace it with
something clean and tidy that fits properly and covers up the now
badly scratched paintwork behind it from the rivets which hold the
plate onto the fabulous contraption.

Any help would be appreciated!

carl.halvorsen

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by carl.halvorsen » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:56 am

I have the same plate holder. I positioned a couple of inch square black
foam rubber behind the rivets /screws. Now when I do 240ks the plate doesn't
bend back and scratch the paint work.

Carl

Voodoo

Painted on Registration Plates

Post by Voodoo » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:42 pm

I had mine on for about 8 years. Never a problem. Then got done for 61 in a
50k area (SH1 through Pukerua Bay) and the cop made me report to a police
station with the proper plate on to avoid a $200 fine. Wasn't a particularly
approachable cop either, and he referred to MX5s as "common as grasshoppers"

Gary


On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 14:07:54 +1300 (NZDT), pauls@paradise.net.nz wrote:

Hi,

I've got a sticker plate on the front of my MX5 (see picture on the link
below).

I got a local signwriter to make it with a reflective white background, it
cost about $25.

I've since been pulled over 3 or 4 times for random breath / Rego & WOF
checks, with no comment being made; this included one particularly grumpy cop
who didn't like the way I had my driving lights set at the time.

http://miata.cardomain.com/id/xu8678

Regards
Pal Siddles


Quoting Thomas Beagle <thomas@thomasbeagle.net>:

[...]

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