Gel number plates

Dis86 · 18 Jun 2019 at 12:39

Feek said:
Apart from the . and the incorrect spacing, what’s actually wrong with this?

Well it's illegal on 4 counts. The spacing, the dot, the owners name in text below and no BS stamp. Then there's the fact it has the most tenuous link to the owners name ever.

It was crap.

NVP · 18 Jun 2019 at 13:07

Nasher said:
I dont think they are, read the full document. It can be a 3d print but the plate has to be flat. Not that anyone really seems to care. My front plate is 3/4 size and I've never been pulled up on it.

3D is fine. Otherwise it would specify 3D effect. Documents like this are literal.

Lopéz · 18 Jun 2019 at 13:11

Entai said:
But that is 3D in relation to a 3D "effect" font such as this one

So that the plate is in effect still flat with no raised surfaces.

Having lettering and numbers that are raised from the back plate, I believe is illegal, same as pressed metal plates are illegal as they have raised lettering and numbers.

Pressed metal plates are not illegal, neither are raised letters of any sort. Haven't you ever seen a number plate with stuck on plastic characters?

Lopéz · 18 Jun 2019 at 13:14

Nasher said:
I dont think they are, read the full document. It can be a 3d print but the plate has to be flat. Not that anyone really seems to care. My front plate is 3/4 size and I've never been pulled up on it.

Where is flatness mentioned? I can't see it.

Feek · 18 Jun 2019 at 13:35

Dis86 said:
Well it's illegal on 4 counts. The spacing, the dot, the owners name in text below and no BS stamp. Then there's the fact it has the most tenuous link to the owners name ever.

It was crap.

Right, so the actual plate, the “gel” part (whatever that is) has nothing to do with the reason you think it was crap. Is that right?

Hyburnate · 18 Jun 2019 at 13:37

Nasher said:
I dont think they are, read the full document. It can be a 3d print but the plate has to be flat. Not that anyone really seems to care. My front plate is 3/4 size and I've never been pulled up on it.

Got a screenshot?

Looking at the below:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/schedule/3/part/3/made#text

It mentions heights for pressed/embossed plates which I feel this would fall under. The way it says "and classic" to me suggests that it's not only Pre 1973 plates that this is relevant to?

Dis86 · 18 Jun 2019 at 14:04

Feek said:
Right, so the actual plate, the “gel” part (whatever that is) has nothing to do with the reason you think it was crap. Is that right?

No. The fact that the owner has had to break the law multiple times to try and have a plate that remotely resembles their name is why I think it was crap.

Feek · 18 Jun 2019 at 14:20

Dis86 said:
No. The fact that the owner has had to break the law multiple times to try and have a plate that remotely resembles their name is why I think it was crap.

Right, so you’d think it was crap even if it was a standard number plate, not a ‘gel’ plate. The fact that it’s gel has nothing to do with it :confused:

IAmATeaf · 18 Jun 2019 at 14:28

I’m going to be stupid but what does that MRS plate meant to say, I can see the MRS and the P. JO but the 4 has me confused.

vanpeebles · 18 Jun 2019 at 14:32

fappy jo

NVP · 18 Jun 2019 at 14:32

I can't believe how angry some people get over someone else's lisense plate! All because of non-conformity??

You'd be shocked at some of the things some people do.

Burnsy2023 · 18 Jun 2019 at 15:12

He'll plates are unlikely to meet the requirements set by BS AU 145d. It's also worth noting that the imminent introduction of BS AU 145e will get rid of 3D type fonts.

Psycho Sonny · 18 Jun 2019 at 15:34

If you have to modify the plate for it to look cool then it's a crap plate. Simple as that.

BO55 MAN - great plate
G1.1 CCI - crap plate

NVP · 18 Jun 2019 at 16:24

Burnsy2023 said:
It's also worth noting that the imminent introduction of BS AU 145e will get rid of 3D type fonts.

Hyburnate · 18 Jun 2019 at 16:37

Burnsy2023 said:
He'll plates are unlikely to meet the requirements set by BS AU 145d. It's also worth noting that the imminent introduction of BS AU 145e will get rid of 3D type fonts.

"imminent" - Pfft, Parliament are too busy chasing their tail with Brexit...

Has it even got a slot in parliament yet?

How is it going to be managed? I appreciate that most of this standard is in the testing of robustness and a small change to layout, but is every plate not compliant really going to be illegal? Or will it be a similar "vehicles prior to 2019 reg need not apply" or?

bainbridge · 18 Jun 2019 at 17:31

Well thanks for your responses folks.

I see that as well as the 3D "domed" lettering, the manufacturers have managed to tap into the 4th dimension with the introduction of laser cut "4D" lettering.

I think the standard gel lettering looks best personally - almost a nod back to the days where the 3d plastic letters were stuck on, as previously mentioned.

Lopéz · 18 Jun 2019 at 18:40

Burnsy2023 said:
He'll plates are unlikely to meet the requirements set by BS AU 145d. It's also worth noting that the imminent introduction of BS AU 145e will get rid of 3D type fonts.

FWIW, BSAU145e only makes reference to 3D "type" fonts as you say - meaning, two tone numerals.

Gel, or aluminium pressed plates would not have 3D effect/two tone numerals. As long as the material conforms to the rest of the specification, I don't see a reason for them to be non-compliant.

Deleted member 66701 · 19 Jun 2019 at 15:41

200sols said:
Very tacky.

The gel plates or the cherished plate?

Or both?

Demon · 19 Jun 2019 at 16:58

Lopéz said:
FWIW, BSAU145e only makes reference to 3D "type" fonts as you say - meaning, two tone numerals.

Gel, or aluminium pressed plates would not have 3D effect/two tone numerals. As long as the material conforms to the rest of the specification, I don't see a reason for them to be non-compliant.

Reading the headline changes:

SO WHAT DO PLATE HAVE TO BE UNDER THE E STANDARD?
Durable and able to resist:

Impact. Stone chips and minor parking collisions are unfortunately part of driving. The impact test ensures the plate’s longevity.

Bending. The components that make up a plate can separate from each other when the plate is bent. This is sometimes called plate delamination. The bend test prevents delamination on BNMA member supplied plates.

Thermal change. The UK’s changeable temperature necessitates this test. The plate’s shape and size must remain the same when subjected to heat and cold.

Abrasion (NEW). Plates stay clear and easy-to-read if they pass the abrasion test. This protects against repeated exposure to dirt, road grime and jet-washing.

Being removed from a vehicle. Provided adhesive pads are placed correctly along the plate, it will take over 160 hours of consistent pressure to detach a plate that passes the E standard.

Weathering. The weathering test under BS AU 145d remains the same under BS AU 145e. It’s a key and extensive test and replicates 2,275 hours of UV exposure; 2½ times more than some other European number plate test schedules.

Dirt. As a subset of the weathering test, plates must be able to resist simulated dirt.

Reflective, with the correct:

Colourimetry. Plates must be made of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.

Retroreflection. To keep them distinct on a plate, the black digits and yellow or white background have very different retroreflectivity rules. The black digits cannot exceed 0.5 retroreflective units (cd/lx) whereas the white or yellow background can’t exceed 150 retroreflective units.

Near Infrared contrast (NEW). ANPR cameras read plates by looking at the contrast between the digit and the plate background. This contrast is read in the near infrared (NIR) spectrum, similar to infrared or ultraviolet. The new rules make sure all plates can be read in NIR. The NIR test is repeated at various points during the accreditation process.

Solid black digits (NEW). Two-tone/3D fonts of any kind are no longer allowed. This is for ANPR cameras.

Supplying outlet’s details. The centre-bottom of the plate must include the supplier’s business name and postcode.

Component manufacturers' mark. All plates show the manufacturer name and BS AU 145e in the bottom right corner of the plate.

Space around the registration. This is essential for ANPR readability.

Optional border.

Honestly sounds more like an attempt to weed out poor quality plates and any of the stupid attempts at defeating cameras, I can't see why Pressed plates or Gel plates could not be made to be compliant.

On that subject I've seen on some forum people asking the police if pressed plates are legal to which the responding officer said 'no, they are illegal' but reading his apparently 'educated' reasoning it was effectively "BSAU145d states it must be made of a reflective material, aluminium isn't reflective"..

Nasher · 19 Jun 2019 at 17:36

And Alu will bend as the temperature changes. So won't pass the "thermal change" test.

Gel number plates

Deleted member 66701

Deleted member 66701