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Devon TRF Group Open Forum -> General Discussion Board -> Riding with L-plates on when you have passed your test...............
Post Info TOPIC: Riding with L-plates on when you have passed your test...............
Wheely


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Riding with L-plates on when you have passed your test...............
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I replied to a post recently to say I'd had a quick shouting match with the police as they were on an emergency shout, but had time to stop and tell me to get my passenger off my girlfriends son's scooter which was displaying L-plates.

I've done some research on bike forums and a police forum (for specials) and read the govs highway code legislation.

It would seem that the highway code has rules, these are when the instructions clearly say 'Must' or 'Must Not'. Failure to comply is an offence for which you can be prosecuted.

The highway code also has best practices, which are advisories for which you can not be solely prosecuted for. These are generally phrased with 'Should'.

I do plan to ride the bike occasionally & not that easy to remove an L plate stuck onto the front mudguard.

Bit of bumf here

http://www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php?/topic/69119-l-plates/

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/travelandtransport/highwaycode/dg_070236

I do realise if I take my boy on the back, a police pullover is very likely.

Thoughts...............................???



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slider rider


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Can't quite remember but If you are a qualified bike rider you used to be able to go on the back of a bike as a pillion if the rider was a learner. Not sure if that still stands, but as the rider with a full licence and taking a pillion on the rear should not be a problem maybe your unlucky day can't see how they can make a pillion get off if you are insured to ride the bike even if you did have the L plates on. confuse I would have challenge the police without a doubt.biggrin



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Clubman B

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when you say that you have the "L" Plate stuck on the front fender reminds me of when i was 17 (a while ago ) and riding home from Exeter to Tiverton on my suzuki 50Er got pulled by the police and given 3 points and a £30 fine on my provistional licence for having my plates improperly displayed front on fender and rear had the corner torn off the "L" still perfectly intact so i guess if they want to nick you they can find something!!! the guy was on his probationary period i later found out so was after as many collers as he could get.

 



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Cubber


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Wheely, displaying L plates is only obligatory if a learner is driving/riding.

It is not an offence for L plates to be displayed on a vehicle when the person driving/riding has a full licence.

If you look at the legislation HERE you can read that it merely refers to learners and mentions nothing about illegality of showing L plates by full licence holders.

Vehicles.
Any vehicle driven by a learner MUST display red L plates. In Wales, either red D plates, red L plates, or both, can be used. Plates MUST conform to legal specifications and MUST  be clearly visible to others from in front of the vehicle and from behind. Plates should be removed or covered when not being driven by a learner (except on driving school vehicles).
Law MV(DL)R reg 16 & sched 4
The law itself doesn't say anything about having to remove the L plates.

There is much debate about this on other sites but not one instance of proof exists which categorically states it to be an offence to run around with L plates unnecessarily.

Martyn



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Wheely


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U can no longer sit behind a provisional licence holder even if you have passed your test - not sure anyone in their right mind would want to. Lol

The copper didn't hang around as was on a real shout. I just shouted back that I had a full license and promptly drove off again with my passenger on board.

Interesting that the newer Speedfight bikes have so many fins and vents on their front that the mudguard was the only place to fit an L plate. Not great considering the bike is designed for a learner!!



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RichT4


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I think your just gonna get pulled allot, and you can't really blame them for that.

I wouldn't be surprised if the law eventually gets modified to deal with that situation, but then again I don't suppose many riders take a pillion passenger on a leaner legal bike so nationally there can't be very many 'false pulls' from this issue.

In the van vs camper world the Police have asked the DVLA to be more choosy about how a van looks externally before changing it over to a camper as this has an impact of what speed limits it has to abide by, and the old bill are sick of pulling vans doing 70 on a dual only to find they've been re-reg'd as campers so are allowed to.

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wackyracer


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Wheely the way you ride there should be L plates fitted all the time biggrinbiggrinbiggrin



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