Styling Got my pressed plates on

[Andy Monty]

I finally got round to contacting the maker of the plates (europl8) And the Guy there called Kevin couldn't have been more helpful if he tried (why cant all traders be more like him he replied late last night to my initial email and again this morning



here are a few extracts from his email addressing the points raised here

Thank you for your letter regarding our embossed plates.

When you submit anything for BSi testing, you do not get a certificate of pass. All you get is a test result/performance booklet. You do of course get a verbal conformation on the results.

Each test, (and there are approx. 10-12,) are listed in the report, each test will have a set of figures/results on what a pass is, the plates have to score above a certain figure depending upon the test to get a pass. The results of the individual tests are then given. A failure of that test will be highlighted in red, a pass is either stated as “pass” or you have to just read the results of the test. You have to pass all tests.

Please rest assured that our plates have passed the BSi testing. We waited 8 long months, and I still can feel the pain of writing the cheque for £12,000.

The 3 most common reasons for a police stop are-
1. You cannot have 3D lettering. - It clearly says on the DVLA website that you can. (as long as it conforms to the BSI testing)
2. You cannot have plates made from metal. - It clearly states on the DVLA website that plates can be made from any material as long as it conforms to the requirements of the BSi test.
3. Retroreflection. The plates do not conform. - I have the test results to prove they do!

All the above points only count if you have actually passed the BSi testing.

With reference to testing the retroreflection, the test goes something like this, a light source is shone at a certain angle and the light reflected back is measured by a special machine, the plates is tested at various angles after that until it reaches 90 degree. It is then tested in reverse.
I am always quite amassed when I hear stories of a police officer shining a torch on the plates then declaring it does not pass the retroreflection test!! Perhaps I should pass on this test to the BSi, it could save them £1000`s.

lease note if you do get a fine for using europl8 plates, you must never pay it. If the case does go to court I can produce the pass booklet. I have yet to hear of a case going to court. I have spoken to DVLA officers who have stated that going to court costs them £3000; this figure far outweighs the fine given.

If someone is fined, they should direct the police to myself. So I can assure them the plates are legal. On several occasions I have spoken to the police giving assurance that the plates do conform to the requirements. All those who have had police contact me with reference to the plates have never been fined.

I must state, that the plates are legal when they leave my premises, altering them in anyway could render them illegal.

Just like the gentleman who bought legal plates, then decided to add a “D” sticker to cover over the GB euro band. Thus making them illegal. He got fined.

And he kindly enclosed a scan from his "test result/performance booklet" from the British Standards Institute (see attached) ....

more info on his website which i feel inclined to recommend after all his help and advice over the past couple of days
http://www.europl8.net/

 

[JustAndy]

One word. Pwned.


Anyway, sorry if i skimmed over it but how long did it take for the plates to arrive Andy Monty

 

[johnw]

Apologies for the delay, it took me a while to get access to the records of the trial I mentioned. The plates in that case were sold as retroreflective. On testing by the forensic science service they were found not to be retroreflective. It is not clear if they were compliant when new and had faded or if they were never compliant.

The ones mentioned in this case may be compliant but if you are stopped you will need to be able to prove it.


I make no allegation of any kind against the company you purchased them from or the person who told you about the tests and offered to back you up in the case of trouble but I would be cautious about statements regarding legal matters made by somebody who admits accepting copies of documents.

 

[Andy Monty]

The offer of help came from the Manufacturer rather than the supplier john

You back to good health and back at work yet?

Oh and thanks for looking it up

 

[PuntoE Tom]

Hello
my first post here (just bought a punto evo and was having a read)

What is the appeal of the metal plates? - if they conform to the correct standards they look pretty similar.........
but they WILL get you pulled over eventually and you will end up wasting time with some copper at the side of the road who will be looking over your car for something else to do you for.

Tom
(I also happen to be a UK Police Officer)

 

[Andy Monty]

:wave: welcome to the foum


Im hoping they last longer than the supplied dealership plates which lasted me less than a year before starting to de-laminate round the screw holes and edges allowing dirt in between the acrylic and reflective trim distorting the letters / numbers which is an offence as it makes them hard for you or your trusty ANPR systems to read....

Lets be fair you can pull a car in when ever you (as a police officer) see fit without no reason.. As you say they look very similar ergo in law the same... so would you spot them at normal traffic speed?


It would make a change for our local force to pull cars in round here.....the amount of blatantly defective vehicles (Ranging from after market blind everyone coming towards you HIDS' Silly noisy exhausts, Silly type face / local football club badge in place of the eec region tag, thread bare tyres.. or Overloaded commercial vehicles..) is astonishing,

I have no problems with been stopped you have a job to do after all.....

And with the proposed cuts the thin blue line is only going to get thinner lumping more work on yourselves.. :bang: