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Car numberplates for bike racks


Scottboy's picture

By Scottboy - Posted on 09 January 2011

On the way up north on Sunday a few people got pulled over by the cops as they usually do as they went past me as I was not in a hurry for a change the few I saw that got pulled up ,I put two & two together & worked out that they were getting pulled up for having the bikes on the racks without the rta supplied plate , Looks like the new laws are in full swing already .

hawkeye's picture

However, it must also be lit if travelling at night.

StanTheMan's picture

All the info you need from the RTA. On fitting Bikr racks
http://www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au/bicycle_rack.html

you can order your plates from here
https://www.myplates.com.au/design_a_plate/order...

I just spoke to My Plates. It takes 21 days to recieve the plates. I was advised not to Use the rack as cops can book you if they want to. Some will, some will not.
Its like anything with Cops & cars. You take the risk. you might get away with it if the cop is sensible & If you respect them they will most likely be considerate.
If you start mouthing off & become smart, most likely they'll get you with whatever they can.

I think I'll keep the bike in the boot until I recieve my plates.

bmar560's picture

thanks for that.
I have ordered my plates last night.

It doesn't mention that you can't you use the car number plates though.

Brian's picture

Just make sure you don't block your lights. I actually saw a pretty nifty idea to attach the plate. A guy got an old drink bottle and attached the plate to this. He then just would fit the drink bottle in his cage and it displayed his plate nicely.

StanTheMan's picture

Well....It doesnt say you can use your car plate.

How ever. It does say this in the last chapter.

"Penalties can apply if:
The bicycle rack or any bicycle fitted to it obscures any light (including a centre-mounted stop light) or the number plate, and the rack is not fitted with an additional set of lights and number plate."

My own personal interpritation of that is that you have to use the bike plate. But that my interpritation on it. I would probably also agree that ist very grey.

I've had fair amount of dealing with Mr Plod in the car Club scene. Most of the time Mr Plod will be reasonable But I just will not take the chance. Laughing out loud

pancakes's picture

You CAN use your regular plate on the rack. Like hawkeye says it must be illuminated at night, be it a bike plate or regular plate.

You cannot (even partially) obscure any of the tail lights.

That's it. It's all there on the RTA website.

hawkeye's picture

OK. Hmmm. Maybe it's brain science then...? Puzzled

Dad joke. Sorry. Sticking out tongue

pancakes's picture

Both valid, hawkeye. Eye-wink

It's clearly stated in 40.1.7.2b Appendix 1 of your International Society of Dad Joke Practitioners handbook.

muvro's picture

I've had my bike rack fitted permanently to my car, two different ones, for over 3 years now and it's my daily driven car (except when commuting on the bike). Been passed by heaps of cops, passed cops and been through RBT's, not one has said or done anything about it. It's a Thule dual bike rack that the bike mounts with wheels on and clamps over the tyre. I made a number plate mounting plate with trailer lights and seperate number plate lights and I use my car plate, not a bike rack plate.

So whether it's specifically legal or not, I think if a bit of commonsence is used, you won't have any problems.

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