Safe Speed Forums

This question came up on Truckersworld.

If the trailer of an articulated lorry isn't fitted with a numberplate, can a prosecution for speeding be secured based on the company name and unique trailer number being on the back of the trailer?

In this case, how far would the operator be expected to go in identfying the driver, assuming that adequate records of who was pulling each trailer were kept?

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

IIRC, to secure a conviction for speeding based on photo evidence the full registration number must be clearly visible from a 'first-generation' photograph with no artificial enhancement.
If this is the case, then the number plate must be on the vehicle and must be visible in full..
Maybe the operator could be prosecuted under C & U regs for failing to display a registration plate on one of their vehicles, but that may also be a grey area.
That's why, if you have a partly broken plate, it's not allowable for the SCP's to deduce the number from just some of the letters/numbers on the plate - and why broken plates on the front are quite common. Oh, no, it's because plates keep on getting broken whilst you are parked in Tesco's car park!

Honest guv!

Wasn't there talk of increasing the penalty for illegal / obscured / missing plates since there were so many people avoiding tickets that way?

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I always stop Artics with no rear/trailer VRM displayed especially if its a plain white trailor. The good companys make sure that the vehicle's number plates are secure and fitted before leaving depot. The fly by night boys are always trying it on.

This I speak from experience from actually being a LGV 1 driver and one who still keeps his hand in with an agency at weekends.

And as a law enforcer it is not only very important to have the VRM for a camera point of view but also the countless, number of FTS collisions that artics committ day to day and get away with it due to no trailor number on the rear.

Stephen

Good answer Stephen and thankyou. Trouble is, you have to be there to see the truck to pull it.

If an unplated truck was flashed, would there be any way to prosecute either the operator or driver for either the speeding offence itself, or for failing to display a plate?

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

What on earth is an "FTS collision" please?

_________________
Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

I'm guessing "Failure To Stop"?

_________________
Chris

I reckon that, whilst the rules regarding speed cameras might prohibit a speeding conviction, any reliable photographic evidence that identifies the vehicle beyond reasonable doubt, and shows it to be lacking a licence plate, should be able to secure a conviction for not displaying it.

Surely?

Robin.

Trouble is (unless its changed recently) the punishment for illegal / missing number plate is only a £30 fine. I don't know if there is any further punishment for repeat offenders.

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Oooooh yes!

_________________
Speed camera policy Kills

Is that the voice of experience Gizmo?

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Me? no never........honest

_________________
Speed camera policy Kills

Whilst I wouldn't disagree with that, when one gets into the realms of HGV's, there is available other 'corroborative' evidence. I know of one large company, having received the intitial paperwork, and on checking the records, they were able to deduce that a driver had put on the trailer a 'spare' plate for a different vehicle. By checking the (visible) trailer number, they were able to ascertain which vehicle had been pulling that trailer at the time/date in question, and direct the paperwork in the appropriate direction.

In normal circumstances, I wouldn't imagine a Camera Partnership bothering too much about the odd one or two. After all, any 'proper investigation' would conflict too much with their primary function of collecting revenue.

On the other hand, it would be a very brave operator that sought to be deliberately obstructive.

The prospect of a 'multi-agency visit' one morning can put a big hole in the Profit/Loss account for the year.

I read with interest the piece about missing no. plates and as someone asked how can you prosecute a vehicle with the plate missing ?
Answer is simple you can,t because the No. plate is there to identify the registered keeper of the vehicle so how can a vehicle such as I drive (I am an HGV1 Driver) be identified if on container work or for that matter tippers with no lettering on?
Would the SCPS contact the owners of the container to trace a container on a specific day to identify a vehicle and more importantly could they be prosecuted for witholding evidence in the same way as not giving information as to who was driving a vehicle at a specific time or date?

that is assuming of course that there is something to identify. the trailer i had last night was a hired trailer and it did of course have its unique trailer number but it is not an official number as a reg no. is. it is only used by the company to identify it for their own records. on top of that, the trailer number is on the headboard so from the back the camera would only have a plain white trailer. having said that, even if the number was written across the back door, it would not give any clue to the owner. only the trailers painted in unique colours with names would give the owners away. you would still need something to identify the specific trailer though.

_________________
Richie

SSAFA supporter
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126025031585

I was under the impression that Speed Cameras are not type approved for anything other than speeding - thus any photographic 'evidence' from such a camera is unusable in Court for any other offence.