Motorists face a fine of up to £1,000 if they make a common mistake in the winter months.
With heavy snow and freezing temperatures hitting Lancashire over the last week highways authorities have been gritting the roads and motorways in a bid to clear the carriageways of any ice. As well as ensuring their windscreen is clear enough and defrosted motorists also have to check several other features on their vehicles to ensure they’re sticking to the law.
It’s important to make sure your windscreen wash is full, and defrosted, as grit on the roads and motorways can very quickly leave the windscreen blocked.
But grit also poses another problem for motorists. In the UK you can be fined up to £1,000 for driving with a dirty or obscured number plate.
If you are caught committing a number plate violation, you could potentially face a fine of up to £1,000 under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. Many drivers will get a on-the-spot fine of £100, but unfortunate motorists could face larger fines.
Speaking with The Express newspaper, Neil Worth, GEM Road Safety Officer said “Although there is no law against having a dirty car, the law is very clear when it comes to keeping your number plates clear; you risk a £1,000 fine if you allow it to become obscured.”
“A number plate must be readable and not covered by dirt. This is to ensure a vehicle can be identified as and when required. It makes sense to get into the habit of giving your number plate a regular wipe – every day when conditions require.”
A dirty number plate could also put you at risk of crime, making your vehicle harder to identify.
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