There are two concepts in the Code of Administrative Offenses: “modified” and “false” sign. For the use of the first, deprivation of rights is expected from a month to three, the second – from six months to a year.
Driver S. covered the first letter of his car number with black duct tape so that instead of “C” there was an “O”. The inspector, and then several courts, decided that the number in this situation was a fake and that he had been stripped of his rights for a year.
The case went to the second court of cassation – and he ruled otherwise. Since the sign itself complies with GOST, the font on it and the paint also do not differ from the standard, it cannot be recognized as a fake. The number has changed, but there is an opportunity to install a real one – you just need to peel off the tape and see the difference.
As a result, the court reclassified the offense in a more lenient article – the driver was deprived of his rights for 3 months, not for a year. Now if the paint was erased and then a new number was applied that differed from the original, the number plate would be considered fake.
• “Driving” can be seen on YouTube.
Source: Rossiya Gazeta