Vehicle and Traffic (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2021

The registered operator of a registered vehicle must ensure that, within 7 days after the Registrar issues a number plate or number plates for the vehicle, the number plate or plates are permanently affixed to the vehicle so that (assuming the vehicle to be on level ground) the following requirements are complied with as far as practicable given the design and construction of the vehicle:the number plate (or each of the number plates) must be at all times – in an upright position parallel to the vehicle's axles; and not more than 1.3 metres above ground level; the registration number on the number plate (or each of the number plates) must be clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres at any point within an arc of 45 degrees from the surface of the number plate above or to either side of the vehicle; in the case of a motor vehicle other than a motor cycle or quad bike, one number plate must be affixed to the front of the vehicle and another to its rear; in the case of a motor cycle, quad bike or trailer, the number plate must be affixed to its rear. Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.

A person must not use a vehicle on a public street unless the person ensures – that any cover on a number plate – is clear, clean, untinted and flat over its entire surface; and has no reflective or other characteristics that would prevent the production of a clear photograph of the number plate by a photographic detection device; and that – no object (other than a trailer to which an unobscured number plate is correctly affixed) over or in the vicinity of a number plate obscures or reduces the visibility of the number plate; and a number plate has no reflective or other characteristics that would prevent the production of a clear photograph of the number plate by a photographic detection device. Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.

A person must not apply a substance to a number plate if the substance would prevent the production of a clear photograph of the number plate by a photographic detection device. Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

A person must not use, or permit the use of, a vehicle on a public street unless – the number plate, or number plates, issued for the vehicle under these regulations or a corresponding law (and no other number plate or number plates) are affixed and displayed as required by this regulation; or the other requirements of this regulation with regard to number plates are complied with – but an accessory number plate need not be affixed and displayed unless the bicycle rack, or other equipment or object, to which the number plate is to be affixed is attached to the vehicle. Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.

It is a defence in proceedings for an offence under subregulation (4), if the defendant proves that – the non-compliance with this regulation was a result of an accident; and it was not reasonable, in the circumstances, to have remedied the non-compliance by the time of the alleged offence.

A person may be charged with, found guilty and convicted of an offence under subregulation (4) whether or not the relevant vehicle was registered at the time of the offence.

If the Registrar issues an accessory number plate, a person must not display the number plate on a vehicle unless it is affixed to a bicycle rack or some other removable equipment or object in accordance with the terms on which the number plate was issued. Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.