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| Motorbike
Legal Section
All motorcycles and tricycles must display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle. Motorcycles and tricycles registered before 1.9.2001 can display a number plate at the front of the vehicle but are not required to. If you have a two or three wheeled motor cycle or tricycle that has a body type of a four-wheeled vehicle, you MUST display a number plate at the front and back of the vehicle. The characters may be smaller e.g. Character Height: 64mm Character Width: 44mm Character Stroke: 10mm Space between characters: 10mm Space between groups: 30mm Top, side & bottom margin: 11mm Space between vertical lines: 13mm Motorcycles registered on or after 1 September 2001 must display a two-line number plate number plate.
Number plates must be replaced if they have been customised with: Stylised letters and/or figures such as italics Number plate fixing bolts that alter the appearance of the letters and/or numbers News articles Police crush on mini motorbikes Police have crushed 15 mini-moto motorcycles confiscated in Devon and Cornwall as part of a campaign to warn riders to use them responsibly. The bikes had been seized over the past year after their riders committed drink-driving offences or displayed anti-social behaviour. Police said such bikes, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph (80km/h), had led to scores of complaints. Riding groups are trying to discourage people from using the bikes illegally. The bikes were crushed at Devon and Cornwall Police headquarters in Exeter on Tuesday. They were confiscated after being ridden illegally on public roads or in parks. Police said many people did not realise the bikes were subject to traffic laws. Devon and Cornwall Police said: "The rider must have a driving licence, tax, insurance and a helmet." Officers have now started a campaign against irresponsible use. Insp Richard Pryce of Devon and Cornwall Police said: "They can cause incredible disturbance to communities. They make a huge amount of noise, and can be very lethal and very antisocial." Responsible riders said they were safe if used properly. 'Wrong hands' Enthusiast Rob Davies said: "It's the fun of being on something so small and yet so powerful, riding them on tracks and circuits. "They also don't hurt anywhere near as much as the big bikes do when you fall off because they are so low to the ground." The South West Mini Moto Club said it wanted to encourage riders to join a responsible group so they could use their bikes at organised tracks legally. Devon and Cornwall Police warned they would continue to use powers to crush any mini-motos found being ridden illegally or irresponsibly. The force said: "Any seized mini-motos could be crushed rather than put up for auction, so that they don't get into the wrong hands again." Courtesy of bbc.co.uk Parents thinking about buying a mini-motorbike or a go-ped for the kids this Christmas have been urged to have a word with the police before parting with their money - or the present could end up costing them more than they expect. There are strict limitations on who can ride these machines, and on where they can be ridden. Some of the consequences people may face include: - Fixed Penalties - Seizure of bikes by police - The chance of being sued for injuries and/or criminal damage Also, parents are responsible for fines and costs if a vehicle is seized from their child. The worst scenario is that a child or someone they collide with could be killed or seriously injured. Mini Motos and similar vehicles can only be ridden legally on private land, with the owner's consent. Anyone breaking the law faces prosecution for having no road tax and insurance and, depending on their conduct, careless or dangerous driving. If the rider is too young to drive, any penalty points handed out by the court will be kept on file and activated as soon as they are old enough to apply for a licence. Youngsters who ride miniature vehicles on roads, pavements and car parks, putting pedestrians at risk, are breaking the law and are liable to have their treasured possession seized by police. Several youths have been issued with warnings and police can seize these motorbikes under section 59 of the Police Reform Act. Owners would then need to pay a fine to recover their vehicle and may be subject to motoring offences. Anyone using one of these motorbikes on a public road must have a driving license, insurance, tax, MOT and index plates and also wear a helmet. If you have a problem in your area or are a parent and are unsure of the law in regards to the use of mini-motorbikes, please contact your local police station. Courtesy of www.essex.police.uk F.A.Q.s My mate says itıs OK to get ride around with a smaller number plate, so long as the letters are the same size as on a normal sized plate - is he right? No. From 1st September 2001 a new set of laws came into force for UK motorcycle number plates, which are quite specific in listing the exact dimensions of the letters, spacing, height - even the margins around them to the edge of the plate ( which must be 11mm, by the way ). You can't change the letter script, or font, from the `Charles Wright' typeface, or push letters or numbers together to make amusing spellings. The plate must have a BS AU145a number on it. What about an old bike with VIC 5EXY written on it? Pre 1973 bikes can have suitably old-fashioned plates with white, or silver letters on a black background, for that authentic look. Vehicles registered before 1st September 2001 can have slightly different spacing or lettering on them. The exact dimensions can be found on the DVLA website; www.dvla.org If you have bought an older bike with an illegal plate on it, it is up to you to fit a plate that has the correct lettering and spacing. Itıs never usually a valid defence in court that you were unaware of something illegal on any motor vehicle. Will I get points on my licence for a naughty number plate? No. The maximum fine is £1,000. But the actual registration mark can be withdrawn by the DVLA as well, which then makes the bike illegal for road use. Is it legal to park a motorbike or scooter on the pavement, so long as it is out of the way of pedestrians? No. If the land is owned by the council, or Highways Department, they can ticket, clamp or remove your motorcycle. Is it legal to park on private land, such in front of some offices, or round the back of a factory unit? Yes, if you have permission. It is private land at the end of the day, so your vehicle could be removed if you are say, blocking a fire door. The sensible rule is that if someone asks you not to park in a specific spot, or there is a warning sign, then don't - it's nearly always possible to find somewhere else on a bike or scooter to park. Remember that returning one day to find your vehicle lying battered on its side, after it mysteriously "fell over" is never much fun. Also remember to lock it, even if it is a rusty old scooter and you're parking for a few minutes - thieves love nicking scooters and mopeds from outside shops and offices. Can I wear a tinted visor when it's occasionally sunny? Yes, but only a visor which has a BS 4110 stamp on it, permitting 50% of sunlight through. Darker ones are illegal. Hmmm, what about some rockin Raybans under my usual visor? Wearing sunglasses is perfectly legal, so long as your sunglasses let 18% of the light through. So are visor inserts by the way, but you may find that some Police will pull you over anyway. Do points on my licence from car offences count against me on bikes, and the other way round? They do. Once you reach 12 points, you are looking at a minimum 6 month ban, unless you can convince the magistrates that there are mitigating circumstances which mean you deserve mercy. Losing your job is not a reason for avoiding a ban by the way. Being a celebrity, or member of the royal family, may be helpful however, depending on your charity commitments. I own an old Tomos moped with a git boy loud exhaust on it - is that legal? If your Tomos was registered before 1983, then yes, it probably is - although being a regular nuisance may still get you pulled by the law, under the new anti social behaviour laws. Pre 1983 motorcycles are not required to have a BS stamped exhaust, or conform to a decibel limit. They must not however have an exhaust stamped `NOT FOR HIGHWAY USEı on it - that is illegal no matter how old the bike may be. My mate Kev has a GPZ600R, which has a well tasty `zorst fitted - is that legal? It depends. There are a number of BS ( British Standard ) markings dating from the 1980s, plus the original manufacturers markings, which a police officer would check for on the exhaust. Replacement systems made before Jan 1st 1997 should have a BS AU 193 stamp, or the equivalent International kitemark, displayed clearly and legibly on them. Is it legal to try getting your knee down on roundabouts, pull wheelies or stoppies? In general, no. Most Police officers would regard more than two laps of a roundabout to be some kind of offence and popping wheelies or doing stoppies, as being dangerous, or reckless riding, or perhaps `riding without due care and attention. Ultimately, it is only a Police officerıs opinion on your riding ability, but that opinion will generally be accepted by the magistrates as the truth, not your excuse that you were following tips on `riding like a Godı from a bike magazine. The place to get your knee down is called a racetrack and trackdays start from as little as £80 per day - cheaper than copping three points and a fine. Under anti social legislation passed in 2003 you can have your bike confiscated and then sold by the Police, without any appeal, or compensation, if they decide you were riding in a dangerous manner - this is to make sure that biker meets which feature amateur stunt shows can be shut down very quickly. My mate Kev reckons if you fit a legally marked exhaust then you donıt have to tell your insurance company, as youıre automatically covered - is that true? Nope. Your insurance policy will state exactly what is, and is not, covered. Generally, any changes or modifications to the bike, which the insured ( thatıs you ) DID NOT tell the company about could affect whether the insurer would pay out, assuming the bike was legal at the time of an accident, but it is not wise to allow the company the chance to refuse to meet the cost of a claim - thatıs why youıre insured after all - so always tell your insurer of any changes you have made to the bike from its standard spec. This same rule also applies to accidents and convictions by the way. If you want to make sure youıre covered, be honest. Courtesy of insidebikes.com |
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