legalities

I have a car in for an MOT at the moment, and had a call to say that it's failed because of the number plates having a honeycomb background (below). It has probably passed the last five or more mots with them on, at the same place (main dealer), so does anyone know for sure whether or not they...

BBC News - The legal confusion over perpendicular parking BBC News - Smart car driver's fine for parking sideways in Stroud quashed Not sure why this has only come to light 14 years after they were launched... Opinions?