simke 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2009 So I was pulled over this morning by an office because of my German plates. Fair enough, got a warning and was told to remove them on the side of the road and go home and put the proper ones back. Which is what I've done now, damn they look ugly. The officer knows a bit about them, the website, how much they cost, etc. He mentioned they are pulling over quite a few people these days because of the plates, so if you have one maybe its time to change back to the original one. He also mentioned that now they usually don't give out warnings anymore because people just ignore them, so I'm lucky I didn't get a fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andre3000 55 Report post Posted March 21, 2009 Wait a sec........ A police officer told you to remove your plates and drive home with none on? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Forrest 35 Report post Posted March 21, 2009 I am defintely going to keep my original ugly ones in the car just in case. Out of curiosity, did yours have a 'D" symbol or the NZ/Fern etc? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simke 0 Report post Posted March 21, 2009 Yep the officer told me to remove the plates and drive home without them. Mind you it happened couple of hundred meters from where I live, but I guess he trusted me that I'd go back and not go for a ride without plates. Mine had a "D" symbol on them. But even the ones with the fern have different font, so I guess they'll spot that. As I mentioned the officer knew a bit about them, asked if I got them for $US49 from germanplates.com And I was a bit surprised that he spotted them, it was a two lane road in both directions, and he was parked on the other side of the road. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ari Gold Report post Posted March 21, 2009 If you've got the split plates ala the true german style you're way more likely to get told off, as it were. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e30plz 1 Report post Posted March 21, 2009 Yeah ^ Having the D is just a bit of a give away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 (edited) Yup, regretting getting the space in mine. Then again I did it before LTSA/PPlas/NZPolice had even heard of them so was pretty safe. Not sure what to do - not going back to stock and not forking our $600 or whatever it is these days either. Edited March 22, 2009 by bravo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Simon* Report post Posted March 22, 2009 This is unfortunate. Feel for ya Simke - I'd have been pissed off. Of all the things the cops can chase, this seems amongst the most trivial. I'm working on the basis that so far this is an Auckland problem, and hopefully will take a long time to filter down to "the provinces" and their undermanned stations. Plus I always carry the originals in the boot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simke 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 Not sure what to do - not going back to stock and not forking our $600 or whatever it is these days either. Agree, I'm not forking out $400 for an euro plate, so for now I'm stuck with ugly stock plates. Might have a look on TM and see if there are any interesting reasonably priced personal plates for sale. No other options really. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cale 36 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 I was thinking of putting the 'legal' plates over top of the germanplates.com ones, so you can still see the NZ flag and ferns, and the plate still looks wide etc. Would this work? I have seen lots of English classics doing it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simke 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 Seen that on a couple of cars, guess it would be alright because you are still showing your LTSA approved plate. But it looks kinda ugly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmw.maniac 1 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 Somehow I don't get it how German plates are illegal and yet every Ferrari/Lamborghini/Bentley/Porsche under the sun has either no front plate or a tiny, unrelective 4x2 inch sticker as a plate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e30plz 1 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 I'm working on the basis that so far this is an Auckland problem, and hopefully will take a long time to filter down to "the provinces" and their undermanned stations. Plus I always carry the originals in the boot+1, Mine have the German colours on them and I haven't been pulled over yet,Got my originals under the seat just incase. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMWTouring 20 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 When I got pulled up a few weeks ago in Auckland the cop also knew all about them and told me to take them off and put the originals back on, they arent as stupid as people think, eventually they WILL get sick of giving out warnings and give out fines. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjh 26 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 (edited) This is unfortunate. Feel for ya Simke - I'd have been pissed off. Of all the things the cops can chase, this seems amongst the most trivial. I'm working on the basis that so far this is an Auckland problem, and hopefully will take a long time to filter down to "the provinces" and their undermanned stations. Plus I always carry the originals in the boot I got a $200 fine in Napier late last year with NZ replica plates on my wife's 2006 VW Golf GTI. Cops obviously have a lot of spare time to concentrate on this and ignore the "real" crime out there! Edited March 22, 2009 by mjh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 I will be running standard plates when I come to AK - over the top of my German ones if I can. I don't care how ugly it looks, at least at home I can rock the german ones. Give it 12 months - as long as no-one kicks up too much of a fuss, they'll forget about it and move on to the next hot thing to fine people for. They had a blitz on the "sticker" plates a few years back, but slowly I've noticed more people have them again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antallica 15 Report post Posted March 22, 2009 Yeah the sticker fad is on the increase here.. used to be european cars now it's Skylines and stupid sh*t. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted March 28, 2009 I'd be pleading ignorance and just say that they came with the car at the time of purchase. Thats absolute bullshit, the german plates do a good job imo and I could almost guarantee that the reason behind the law against them would be financially motivated, i.e makes you buy the far too overpriced genuine ones. My Audi has genuine ones, but I could guarantee that I wouldnt be spending $900!!!!!! I mean FFS, $900 bucks for a euro plate??? I got a personalized plate for my birthday about 10 years ago and they cost the wife then about $300 and even then I thought it was over priced. Now the same thing is $600 http://www.plates.co.nz/prices/ I can't see how they can justify $900 for a bit of paint & alloy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
