Question:
Hi, I was pulled over today by the traffic police and was fined R500, because I had a 60mm square number plate in front of my car. However , is it illegal to have that type of SABS approved plate in front? He could not show me in the SANS 1116 documentation.
Answer:
I copy the regulation for you. See subregulation (10) for the sizes.
Reg 35. Display of licence number
(1) The licence number of a motor vehicle shall be displayed on a plate, to be referred to as a number plate and which complies with standard specification SANS 1116: “Retro‑reflective Registration Plates for Motor Vehicles”, Part 2: “Registration plates (metal)” or Part 4: “Registration plates (plastic).
(2) The number plate referred to in subregulation (1)—
(a) shall bear a certification mark as shown in the standard specifications referred to in subregulation (1);
(b) shall have a yellow or white retro-reflective surface;
(c) shall have black, dark blue, dark red or dark green letters and figures, but shall display only black letters and figures in the case of a yellow retro-reflective surface;
(d) may display a logo or landscape if it appears on a white retro-reflective surface; and
(e) shall be clearly legible and visible.
(3) The letters and figures on a number plate shall be arranged—
(a) with all the letters and figures in one line; or
(b) with the letters preceding the figures in one line and immediately thereunder, the figures and, if applicable, the last letter in one line;
(c) with all the letters and figures and the logo or landscape in one line; or
(d) with the letters or the figures and the logo or landscape in one line, and immediately thereunder—
(i) the figures and letters;
(ii) the letters and letters; or
(iii) the letters and figures,
and, if applicable, immediately thereunder, the letters in one line.
(4) Subject to the standard specification referred to in subregulation (1), a motor vehicle may only display on number plates letters and figures of 60 millimetres on the rear of motor vehicles which has illuminated space at the rear which is too small to permit the attachment of number plates with letters or figures of 75 millimetres: Provided that no person shall display a number plate other than the size of a number plate the illuminated space is provided for; and
(5) The owner of a motor vehicle shall cause the number plate of such motor vehicle to be affixed thereto, from the date of licensing of such motor vehicle, in the manner referred to in subregulation (7), whether or not such motor vehicle is operated on a public road: Provided that the provisions of this subregulation shall not apply in respect of a number plate which is removed from such motor vehicle for the purpose of effecting repairs to such motor vehicle or number plate, and while such motor vehicle is not operated on a public road.
(6) No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle—
(a) on which a licence number or anything purporting to be a licence number, which is not applicable to such vehicle, is displayed;
(b) of which the licence number is in any way obscured or has become illegible, except if such licence number is temporarily obscured or illegible by reason of a cause beyond the control of the driver of such motor vehicle;
(c) while, subject to subregulation (2)—
(i) any design appears on the number plate or if such plate is fitted to a number plate holder, on such holder; and
(ii) there appears within 150 millimetres of the licence number applicable to such motor vehicle, a design, ornamentation, figure or letter which is not a component part of the standard equipment or construction of that motor vehicle:
Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a distinguishing sign of the country of registration affixed in terms of the Convention, or to a logo or landscape determined by the MEC concerned;
(d) which, if such motor vehicle is deemed to be registered and licensed by reason of it being registered or licensed in a prescribed territory, does not comply with the legislation of that prescribed territory relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles and matters in connection therewith;
(e) which is registered in a prescribed territory, other than the Republic of Namibia, without displaying the distinguishing sign of the country of registration allocated in terms of the Convention;
(f) if such vehicle is registered in the Republic and displays thereon a distinguishing sign other than the distinguishing sign allocated to the Republic in terms of the Convention, or other than a logo or landscape determined by the MEC concerned;
(g) in or on which a number plate is carried on which a licence number appears which is not applicable to such motor vehicle or anything purporting to be a licence number, unless he or she provides evidence that such plate was not carried with criminal intent;
(h) registered in the Republic, if each number plate, which complies with subregulations (1), (2) and (3), displayed on the motor vehicle does not display the same licence number, letter type, colours, and logo or landscape; or
(i) on which a number plate is displayed that does not comply with standard specification SABS 1116: “Retro‑reflective Registration Plates for Motor Vehicles”, Part 2: “Registration plates (metal)” or Part 4: “Registration plates (plastic).
(7) A number plate shall be affixed—
(a) in such a manner that it is not easily detachable;
(b) in an upright position or within 30 degrees of such position;
(c) in such a manner that each letter and figure thereon is clearly legible;
(d) in such a manner that the whole number plate is clearly visible;
(e) to the back of a motor cycle, motor tricycle, motor quadrucycle or trailer; and
(f) one to the back and one to the front of all other motor vehicles.
Provided that no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle first registered on or after 1 July 2011, unless the number plate fixed to such motor vehicle is affixed within 20 millimetres from the edges by means of 4 millimetres rivets or 4 millimetres one-way self tapping screws either directly onto the motor vehicle or onto an integral part thereof or onto an intermediate holding bracket which complies with the provisions of SANS 973 “Number Plate Carrier” approved by the Department of Transport, and which is attached to the motor vehicle in such a way that it cannot be removed while the number plate is affixed to it in the aforesaid manner.
(8) A number plate shall, in the case of—
(a) a double-deck bus of which the engine is at the rear, be affixed not higher than one comma nine metres from ground level; or
(b) any other motor vehicle, be affixed not higher than one comma five metres from ground level.
(9) The provisions of subregulation (7) in relation to legibility and visibility of a number plate which is affixed to the back of a motor vehicle, shall not apply to a motor vehicle which is towing another vehicle.
(10) Any person in possession of a number plate which is not applicable to any motor vehicle of which he or she is the title holder or owner, shall destroy such number plate, unless such possession is within his or her cause and scope of employment.
Provided that notwithstanding the provisions of this regulation, no person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle first registered on or after 1 January 2010, unless such motor vehicle is fitted with a 520 – 113 or 250 – 205 or 250 -165 size number plate.
Alta
Alta Swanepoel and Associates CC
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