Number Plate Case : Minister Approached
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THE Minister of Transport has been approached by various national organizations to amend the regulations concerning number plates, so that there may be no doubt about the legality of those with polished aluminium figures. This action follows the conviction at Glasgow Sheriff Court of a motorist who-had such number plates on his car.
The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 1451, require the figures to be white upon a black background. It was contended in the motorist's defence that aluminium could be regarded as the equivalent Of white, but the Sheriff said that whilst alumini urn was a " white " metal it was not white in colour.
There was also a charge that the rear number plate was so lit that the registration mark was unreadable. This was accepted by the Sheriff, who said that the reffection.s made by the polished metal made the figures on the plate indistinguishable.
A spokesman of the Automobile Association, which supported the motorist in the action and have, on his behalf, asked for leave to appeal, stated that number plates with polished aluminium figures have been accepted as adequate for over 20 years. He doubted whether the conviction would have any widespread repercussions. Confirmation by a higher court of the Sheriff's decision would precede any general action by the police, he thought.
It is believed that there are similar actions pending throughout the country. Whilst a decision by a Scottish court is not binding in England, it can be taken into consideration. Possibly half the vehicles in Britain have number plates with aluminium figures and Bluemel Bros., Ltd., makers of number plates, have suggested that they can be suitably modified with white paint.