Has anyone got or had one of these? I’m going to give one a go, looks handy. http://plateflip.com/product/licence-plate-flipper/ cheers.
Yeah. When I bought my first bike it came with the one on the left in your link. They're shit though. They flap about under the bumpiness of riding as they're only locked in the visible position by a magnet, they have a substantially large servo on show which attracts attention, and you can't rely on it hiding the plate at speed as the servo fights a battle against the wind at speed, so I wouldn't stake my licence on it being able to hide the plate at speed. Plus as Kevin says, they'll get you a criminal record if you're not careful.
I think even just having one of those fitted to your bike whether you use it or not would land you a harsher penalty than getting snapped by speed camera.
You are correct. Simply fitting it to the bike leaves you liable for arrest and prosecution for ther criminal offence perverting the course of justice. Penalty carries a maximum of life imprisonment (although I have never known anyone convicted receive the maximum), your bike can also be seized and crushed. There are also several other offences committed, but that is the main one. Is it worth it? I don't think so...... Sorry to be a killjoy
It would not be against the law to fit one because you could use it to make more room to remove your rear wheel but it would be illegal to use one. If you do not activate it then that means it would always be on show so they can’t do anything
Sorry to contradict you, but fitting it and using the bike on the road with it fitted is an offence. In the eyes of the law, fitting a flipper is sufficient to prove intent to use it, so I don't know where you got your information, but you were wrongly advised.
If the bike never goes on road, then you are correct, there is not a problem. However, once you go onto the road, the law states that simply being fitted is regarded as using,, therefore illegal because the intent is there to use it. By all means take their advice, that is your perogative, their knowledge is clearly far greater than mine. I can only point out the implications based on 45 years of teaching and working in traffic law enforcement along with the number of riders and drivers I have arrested and had convicted over the years for (along with colleagues who also have arrested many) simply having the flipper fitted.
I bet TC is right that a lot of coppers might take you to the magistrate over it just for having it fitted. But I bet a good lawyer would go a long way if you could prove the system was deactivated on the road or you could prove it wasn't used. There is a case online where the user could prove the system wasn't functioning, think he got off. They're a bloody stupid idea though Trav, don't do it mate!
Yeah I’ve actually decided against it but at least it sparked up some good discussion. seems like sticking to “sorry officer it must have fallen off” is the safer bet (that is a joke by the way)!!!
Firstly as I have already mentioned, this is not something that can be dealt with by the Magistrates. It can only be dealt with by Judge and Jury at the Crown Court. Secondly, a dodgy Lawyer would be happy to take your money to defend you knowing full well that the offence is absolute, so he could try and prove what he/she likes, it would make no difference. A decent lawyer will advise you that you have no defence and not to waste your money and take your medicine. That is actually a safer option because an offence under the road vehicles (licencing) regs does not even carry endorsments or points, so a plate falling off or being obscured (providing is is clear that the number has not been deliberately obscured) is a safer and cheaper option. Still would not recommend it though
There we go then, just don't do it Still don't see how you could be done for perverting the course of justice though if you could prove deactivated and not used.
