In the code of Administrative Offenses there are two distinct concepts that can affect penalties: a merely altered sign and a false sign. The former can lead to deprivation of rights for a period from one month to three months, while the latter carries a term from six months to a year.
In the cited case, driver S. covered the initial letter of his license plate with black tape, changing the letter from C to O. Initially, inspectors and several courts treated this as a fake plate, which resulted in a one-year suspension of rights for the driver.
However, the matter was reviewed by a second cassation court, which reassessed the situation. The court found that the sign itself matched GOST standards, and that the font and paint on the plate were consistent with the standard. Consequently, it could not be recognized as a counterfeit. The physical plate had been altered, but there remained a straightforward way to restore legitimacy: remove the tape and reveal the difference between the altered and the original plate.
As a result, the court reclassified the offense under a more lenient provision, reducing the penalty to three months of deprivation of rights rather than a full year. The case underscores a critical point: if the paint were to be removed and a new number, different from the original, applied, the plate would then be deemed fake and treated accordingly.
For those curious about such cases, a video detailing the scenario is available on YouTube. This discussion highlights how the precise interpretation of signs and markings can significantly shape legal outcomes in administrative offenses. [Citation attributed to Rossiya Gazeta].