Check my letter to the council for me?

[AE86less]

I got a ticket last night ($200) for "failing to display rego plates in the prescribed manner". It's rubbish, they are legal plates being displayed legally. I've written a letter, but I occasionally get a bit carried away and become a little abrupt, if you've got a spare minute could you give me your reaction?

Cheers

***
Glenfield
North Shore City
0629

Auckland City Council Parking Services
Private Bag 92502
Wellesley Street
Auckland
1141

29 July 2010

Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing in regards to an infringement notice issued on the evening of the 28th of July at 8:37pm, notice number P1864880. The ticket was issued for “Failing to display registration plate(s) in the prescribed manner”, I would like to know exactly what was wrong with how my number plates were displayed. The plates are and were affixed to the standard mounting point on the rear of the car and securely screwed in an offset position on the front bumper, as they have been since I bought the car in 2009.

The manner of attachment of the number plates is the same as when I bought the car in mid/late 2009. The (personalised) plates themselves were inspected by the AA when they were registered to the car, as well as recently passing a WOF and multiple inspections of the car by police officers without comment.

In short, nothing in the way that my number plates are displayed has changed since multiple checks of their legality by other appropriate authorities. I would like to request that the Auckland City Council Parking Services rescinds the ticket in light of this. I am happy to comply with any requirements that Parking Services may have with regards to how registration plates are displayed, but up until this point I simply did not know that how they are currently is not acceptable.

Yours Faithfully,


Sam T***

[deaf_rattle]

include a pic...

[AE86less]

Goatse pic?

Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll try and take some that don't show the condition or ride height of the car

[offensive]

sounds like aucklands gone apeshit with fining everyone for whatever they can or like.
so whats the deal? numberplate is a lil crooked? whats the law say?

[snwtoy]

Find the piece on the LTSA website which relates to display of registration plates, and quote that?

[Alex B]

I take it they are standard LTNZ plates, not the German plates or anything.

[Lurkin]

sounds like they have been taking tips from wellington.....

[Akane]

If you did the whole gangsta slanted plate shit, then you deserved it

But if you did nothing wrong, write in "Are you guys motherfucking blind?" Or words to that effect, but in a nicer way.

[Mr Revhead]

Find the piece on the LTSA website which relates to display of registration plates, and quote that?

Yeah print the page and include it or something
Also don't they use the hand held ticket thingys? the one with a camera to take a pic of the offence? Pretty sure my old man sold them some
Request that pic

[Leon]

I was about to ask "gangsta lean?"

[dusk93]

Sams plates aren't on a gangsta lean haha they are regularly mounted (writing is parallel to the ground ) and the only thing that is not "factory" about their mounting is that the front one is to the left of centre because the original mounts had been cut/ground/sheered off by the previous owner.

Council just loves ticketing people. They wait outside school from about 8 am till 4pm just ticketing everyone that has parked on the non-school side of the road that used to be 3 hour (180 min) parking that was recently shortened to 2 hours. Which makes it almost impossible to move your car if you have to because there is longer than 2 hours between breaks.

They also troll the transit lanes with their pink towtrucks of homosexual orientation to tow unsuspecting victims who have parked in a transit lane the second it clicks over to 4pm /6 30am depending on the direction of travel.

I know they are just doing their job, But Cops are far more resonable to deal with atleast they will have a chat to you about what is/isnt legal about things and how they think you should improve them. Imo council wardens are just glorified mall cops who are a little ticket crazy. I got fined for driving 54 ish meters in a transit lane 3 minutes before it was a regular lane again, when I have to be in that lane to go round the corner to get home. They mailed me a "were you driving this vehicle at his time or do you know who was driving this vehicle as they were spotted in a transit lane" letter. So I replied with a letter explaining my circumstances then had several months of no contact from the council thinking sweet they let me off but no, sent me out a reminder notice that stated I had 28 days to pay or else theyll be seeing me in court. No mention of my letter and no actual fine notification of the offence.

[nobody]

The letter is pretty good on the whole, but I agree you come across a little abrupt in places. I've played round with the order and added a few things to give it a more informed, assertive tone without the underlying (but understandable) aggression

Hope it is of some help.


Glenfield
North Shore City 0629

Auckland City Council Parking Services
Private Bag 92502
Wellesley Street
Auckland 1141

29 July 2010

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing in regards to an infringement notice issued on the evening of 28 July 2010 at 8:37pm, notice number P1864880. The ticket was issued for "Failing to display registration plate(s) in the prescribed manner".

I am happy to comply with any and all legal requirements in regard to how the registration plates are displayed, but would appreciate clarification on how my current set up does not comply.

The rear plate is securely affixed with both bolts in the standard mounting position on the rear of the car. The front plate is also securely attached with both bolts to the front bumper of the car in an offset position to one side; forward facing, upright and with each character clearly visable complying fully with The Transport (Vehicle and Driver Licensing Registration and licensing) Act 1998 Section 17 Supplementary Regulation 1995/136.

The manner of attachment of the number plates is the same as when I purchased the car in mid/late 2009. The (personalised) plates were affixed then as they are today and were inspected by the AA when they were registered to the car, as well as recently passing a WOF and multiple inspections of the car by police officers.

I respectfully request that the Auckland City Council Parking Services identify the specific legal area of non compliance the ticket was issued for to help me with my further enquiries. If this information isn't available I would like to formally request that the Auckland City Council Parking Services rescind the ticket.


Yours faithfully




Sam T***



Links:
http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/tips/ask-jack/advice/Pages/Front-number-plate-position.aspx
http://www.performancecar.co.nz/articles/technical-articles/is-it-illegal-to-move-the-number-plates-on-your-car-from-their-factory-position
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0006/latest/DLM90415.html

[duddley]

That last one was perfect

[FANGIN]

This reminds me of the time I was issued with a ticket for parking for 63minutes in a 2 hour parking area....

I had a lol, and sent them a copy of the ticket along with a photograph of where the car was parked & the 2hour limit sign.

They let me off.

[Looonie]

If it helps, when I got pulled over once the cop commented on how it was "good that you've got the plate on the correct side" as i had it mounted off to the passenger side of the front bumper. He said that it had to be on the left side of centre if it wasn't centered so that speed cameras could still pick it up.

Haven't seen pics yet, but maybe your plate is to the drivers side of centre and thats the reason for the ticket?

*shrug*

This shows where my plate is mounted:

[Malcolm]

my plate is mounted on the driver's side and I've been through 3 or 4 VTNZ wofs and been pulled over probably as many times and not once had them say anything about the position of the plate, and mine is well offset (about flush with the edge of the bumper)

[iOnic]

Speed camera takes a picture of the entire car. It doesn't make any difference where your registration plate is as long as it's on the front of the car.

I got done for the same thing and I wrote in with pictures of various cars that come with offset mounted plates from new (Most Evo's, Alfa 156 etc etc) and asked for an explanation of why they are exempt from the law. They wrote back and apologized for the mistake and cancelled the fine.

There's no law against having an offset plate. The only law regarding plate mounting is that the plate is upright, not obscured and there is one on the front and rear of the car.

[wde_bdy]

If it wraps around the front corner of you bumper its not legal, which seems to be a current trend. Basically as said it need to be the original plate issued by NZTA or their agent, upright and visible, don't rely on having passed a WoF as being legal though as the numberplate is NOT part of the WoF test.

Callum

[Al]

When they write back saying, thanks but the fine still stands.

Request a defended hearing. Then someone with some actual clout actually reads your letter.

[AE86less]

Cheers for the help here guys. I had another little play with Nobody's letter and sent it in.

Several months later they have rescinded the ticket

+1 for Toyspeed.