Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

pigtin · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay

Just came across this in Ian Dale's political blogsite ( having always wondered why some people blank out their reg numbers in adverts,) I now have the answer. Shocked

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We have just had a visited from Her Majesty's Constabulary. "Do you own an Audi, Sir?" asked the WPC? "Well, if you look behind you, you'll see three of them!" I jauntily replied. "Is one of them registration number GU... XXX?" "Yes, the A4 over there," I pointed out. "We're trying to sell it." "Well it's been involved in a crime and used as a getaway vehicle," said the second WPC. I must admit, my blood started to run cold at that point, as I imagined joining Stevie Gerard down the local nick. My mood brightened when I realised it was registered in my partner's name and not mine Smile

.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, my partner had put it in Autotrader and hadn't photoshopped out the number plate. So a London criminal decided to make the plate up, put it on an identical car and use it in a robbery. Nice. Apparently this happens quite a lot.

The only reason I am telling you this is as a warning to others. If you're advertising you car for sale, don't put the registration number in the photo
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Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

A number of years ago our museum had a visit by serious crimes officers wanting to know why one of our vehicles had been used in a robbery in London.

The Senior Curator took them onto the floor and stood them in front of an ancient 1920's steam road roller that, surprise, surprise had the same registration number as the robber's car.

Now wasn't that a co-incidence! Laughing

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7212 Location: Edinburgh

Up 'til now I've not really thought about or undertstood the blanking either. I couldn't really see the difference between your car in the street and your car in a photo but it's the ease of searching for an image of an identical vehicle that makes the difference. So, as long as there is no searchable title describing the vehicle then we don't need to blank and certainly not if it has a unique paint job.

Peter Idea

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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Greeney in France · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject:

In France we have to take along 3 items of documentation to have a plate made up Carte Gris (log book) driving licence and a household bill like an EDF bill. All plates have to be riveted and not screwed in place. 135€ fine if caught
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www.OldFrenchCars.com

We do these things not to escape life but to prevent life escaping us

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

peppiB · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

Once had a parking ticket through the post relating to a car of mine. Fortunately I could prove that at the time of the offence, mine was in bits in a commercial garage. last time I advertised a car on ebay I had an abusive message from someone in London complaining that I had blanked out the reg. Shocked

Keith D · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 12:57 pm Post subject:

All our number plates in West Oz come via the police licencing people. There are no number plates made privately. The crims in jail make them!

If we let our car licence expire, we have to return the number plates to the police within a month, or have Plodd knocking on the front door with a bluey in his hand!

Surely it would be far easier to simply thieve the number plates off a car in all day parking, such as a railway station!!!

Regards - Keith D