number plate lights?

[AndyG]

Not going back for your fuel cap, can be regarded as ; you never had one in the first place, to go back for
So this point lets you down VERY badly and shows that you couldn't care less

charges are now, as written, 1,driving without no plate lights working,

Here, you can argue on 3 fronts
Firstly, the van's number plate cannot be seen (ordinarily) with the trailer attached
And the fact that it was in the middle of the day, makes illumination rather irrelevant

And that the illumination of your number was working on the trailer when you checked it

2driving a vehicle which was a dangeror could cause injury to any person, in respect of the fuel cap being missing.

That's a bit of an over-reaction
So you accidentally and not deliberately forgot the cap at the station ( you are very sorry about that and in future you WILL be attaching the fuel key to your ign key/s)
Never too late to go back and find your cap is still on the pump (A phone call to the Fuel station isn't going to hurt now is it )Do they still have it

3, driving a vehicle with rear tail lights inoperative.

Surely this can't apply
I presume they can't nick you twice for the number plate lights

(there is no mention of trailer or trailer lights )

A good solicitor can wipe out all these charges, if that's how they've worded the charges
Get yourself down to Citizens Advice and get an expert opinion and take note of our vannut's comments regarding the numberplate on the van too as I totally agree with him

[Smooth Hound]

ill ring the garage. i am not disagreeing with vannut, i just cant make out what he means about the plate lights on the van, and having a trailer on the back,

[sc_BK]

What vannut was saying is certain vehicles are exempt from having a rear number plate light. From the images he posted, you are exempt from having a rear number plate light if you are exempt from displaying a rear number plate. You are exempt from displaying a rear number plate (on the towing vehicle) whilst a trailer is attached. But obivously you have to display a plate with light on the rear of the trailer (which you were)


...if that makes sense

[Smooth Hound]

I see, is there a number or something of this legislation so that i can quote it at court, if i said something like according to regulation blah blah, i was not needing numberplates or even a plate on the van whilst towing a trailer with its own plate and lights.

[vannut]

Regulation 18(3) and Schedule 1 of "The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989" set out the exemption from the requirement to have a number plate light fitted.

It is worth noting that quite a few vehicles have a relay which disconnects the rear fog lamp(s) when drawing a trailer so that the driver doesn't get the bright red glare from the front of his caravan/trailer.

I have to say that I think that the reporting officer is being petty with this. Not sure what the policy is in Scotland regarding the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (VDRS) but I feel that you should have been given a VDRS notice for this rather than having been charged.

http://www.safercentral.com/foi/docs/ro ... ations.pdf
http://www.sussex.police.uk/infocentre/ ... sp?uid=433

Hope this helps!

[motorwise]

in the past I've had three points each for construction and use offences but it's anyones guess as to what you'll get for the missing fuel cap - don't know if lighting offences are endorsable though

[Smooth Hound]

bug er, 100 quid fine and 3 points i suppose it could have been worse

[FredTransit]

Bloody ell! I think that's well steep.

[Smooth Hound]

what can you do the thing that really annoys me more than the fine or points, is the fact that if they had liked me, perhaps i was a smartly dressed type person, or dare i say it a woman, then i would have been sent on my way with a warning, my ex mother inlaw was once stopped for a headlight not working, indicators not working , brakelights etc, infact there was a prpblem with the electrics and fuses blowing, so anyway they stop her, (lovely men they were) she said, im not surprised as they sent her on her way in the dark, with all those bits not working, and suggested she got her husband to have a look at it for her

[FredTransit]

Suprised they stopped her at all, or bothered to keep her long! Most male coppers can't be bothered, as to do more than ask for a name and address they need a female officer present. At least, that's what happens with the Met.

[Luke]

:twisted: bug er, 100 quid fine and 3 points i suppose it could have been worse

what was this for the no numberplate lights or no diesel cap

[Smooth Hound]

there were 3 things, number plate lights on the van, problem with the lights on the tail board of trailer, and no cap, i havent recieved there letter yet so all i know is is that it was 20 for one offence , 20 for another, and 60 with 3 points for the 3rd, i am guessing the fuel cap was the worse , but not sure