Fined for using illegal bike carrier

[WD7]

I have recently bought a Bike Carrier from a well known bike carrier brand.

Driving over the weekend through Beaufort Wes I received a nice R500 fine because it hides my number plate.

 

Maybe I should have known this but how can somebody sell a bike carrier that "forces" you to break the law?

Why is there no warning on the packaging saying "When using this product you wil break the law"?

 

It is like buying a car with no headlights and in the fineprint "Just add headlights" ......

 

Has this happend to somebody else?

[Wayne Potgieter]

Most carriers have a space that you install a number plate on.

 

Not sure of the exact terminology, but your plates are to be visible at all times.

 

Sorry Dude, but they were right to fine you.

[Tumbleweed]

The carrier doesn't "force" you to break the law. You could affix a plate to your bikes.

[bradwentzel]

Are you really asking this question?

[Wayne Potgieter]

Those cops in Beaufort Wes made a killing with carriers and everyone riding to the cape for the Argus.

 

EDIT ; especially after the Velvet Sky story.

Edited April 30, 2012 by Wayne Potgieter

[Stretch]

Has this happend to somebody else?

 

I have been warned twice now......i am riding my luck a little bit

[LeTurbo]

Driving over the weekend through Beaufort Wes

 

There's your first mistake.

[GhostRider2]

It's not an illegal bike carrier. You just can't obscure your number plate. Fairly obvious I would think.

 

My LBS has a warning sign in their shop.

 

I always make sure my plate is visible. Cops love this easy money.

[awesme]

Was down in Jbay over easter,

 

I figured we might be an easy target for our box patrol lie/fauna/flora guards down there.

 

Luckily I had a old plate, drilled some holes, took some foot straps and raid to my cross bar.

 

G

[Total Trek]

Ja its quite unfair blaming the carrier for being illegal. Its only your common sense that got you that fine. If you have a legal drivers licence, this should be obvious...

[Red Zone]

The cops are on to this one, another soft target for them, I managed to sweet talk my way out of the time I was pulled over, went out and got a new plate made and stuck it on my rack. You also need to make sure your lights / indicators are visible, you also get a rack of lights that plug into your trailer electric socket.

[DR ◣◢]

Common sense suggests that you look at your car after fitting a carrier to see if you can see the lights and number plate.

 

If either are blocked you make a plan.

[Eugene]

It's amazing. The cops are always so worried about the number plate being obscured, but what about the lights? isn't it more dangerous to have the tail, brake or indicator lights obscured?

[Edge_Design]

Also got pulled over for it and R500 fine... Went and bought a new plate the following week to put on the back of the rack. Guess I'm the only one to blame for the fine - do have to say it's a ridiculous law in my view, but apparently meant enough that the guy chased me down at about 160km/h in a 100km/h area in his Nissan Tiida...

[Wayne Potgieter]

the guy chased me down at about 160km/h in a 100km/h area in his Nissan Tiida...

 

[Capcha]

Also got pulled over for it and R500 fine... Went and bought a new plate the following week to put on the back of the rack. Guess I'm the only one to blame for the fine - do have to say it's a ridiculous law in my view, but apparently meant enough that the guy chased me down at about 160km/h in a 100km/h area in his Nissan Tiida...

Are you bragging? or just ****less dumb?