Could You Complain About Number Plates?

Could a number plate be seen as an offence?

So it was just supposed to be a mischievous way of making his customers giggle, but gentleman’s this cheeky number plates nearly cost this cab driver his job and living.

Martin Willis has been named Willy practically his entire life so as a birthday gift, his wife Linda got him the private number plate MW11 LLY which he proudly presented on his car.

However, after more than a year of folks giggling at the rude lettering he got a rap on the door from Eastleigh Council stating a complaint had been made.

It could have been possible for the council would not reinstate his licence to work for the next year, implying that he wouldn’t be able to last as a private cabbie.

Martin, who hails from Southampton, stated: “As soon as I put the plate on the car individuals would say to me they love the number plate and it makes individuals grin and laugh.”

But then again, and unfortunately for the 60-year-old self-employed private hire driver, not everyone saw the humorous side of the plate.

“Somebody from the council banged on my door and said there had been a grievance made regarding my number plate and that somebody found it unpleasant and offensive.”

“I don’t have to alter it at all because it’s perfectly legal, but I’ve never had any grumbles in the eight years I have been a private cabbie and I assume this objection is going to go on my record.”

Mr Willis had fitted a private number plate on the back of his car that had a space in the middle of the M and the W but said he detached it and swapped it with another plate where there was no gap between the two characters now.

A local Borough Council representative said: “Last month Eastleigh Borough Council’s Enforcement Office was written to by a member of the community who had seen Mr Willis’ number plate at the Airport and protested that it was badly chosen and unsuitable.”

“Our Council Officer visited Mr Willis on the 12th of November to draw attention to fact that altering the spacing on a number plate was an offence under the Road Traffic Act and could upset a forthcoming request to renew his licence.”

“He then took our advice on board and thus has since rectified the issue quickly.”

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