British motorists confused about what will happen to the EU stars on their number plates in the wake of Brexit are using stickers and black tape to cover up the offending flags.
Many are already furious about the prospect of paying to remove the EU plates that were forced into legislation just over a decade ago.
Today, the DVLA said it was 'too early to say' what would happen now that the UK has voted to leave the EU, heightening confusion about what will happen when the new registration numbers come out in September.
Although unwilling to speculate about what will happen post-Brexit, the DVLA told MailOnline that it's 'a customer's choice as to whether or not to have a flag on their number plate'.
Meanwhile, motorists across the country have decided to by-pass the confusion and manually remove the EU flags or replace them with Union flag stickers.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Top Gear fans sparked a bizarre Top Gear conspiracy theory, after the number plate of a different Rolls-Royce featured on the programme seemed to spell out 'Brexit'.
In April 2001, any motorists not displaying the EU stars on their number plate were threatened with being pulled over by police, prosecuted or fined up to £1,000, as new regulations were approved.
It meant that other UK national flags - including the Union flag, the St George Cross, the St Andrew cross and the Red Dragon of Wales - were outlawed.
British drivers use black tape and Union Flag stickers to cover up EU stars on their number plates - because 'it's time to take back control after Brexit'
Drivers across Britain asking what will happen with EU number plates
Union stickers plastered over stars while others covered up with black tape
Motorists run the risk of £1,000 if number itself is obscured
It's the latest in a string of questions raised about complexity of the split
Drivers worry that, whatever the outcome, they will be stuck with the bill
By Imogen Calderwood For Mailonline
8 July 2016
British motorists confused about what will happen to the EU stars on their number plates in the wake of Brexit are using stickers and black tape to cover up the offending flags.
Many are already furious about the prospect of paying to remove the EU plates that were forced into legislation just over a decade ago.
Today, the DVLA said it was 'too early to say' what would happen now that the UK has voted to leave the EU, heightening confusion about what will happen when the new registration numbers come out in September.
Practical: Some Twitter users have given up on the debate and decided to take matters into their own hands, putting Union flag stickers over the EU stars on their number plates
Solution: Drivers have decided not to wait for Government guidance and come up with their own answers
Celebrity: Former Top Gear presenter James May - who made a video with colleague Jeremy Clarkson during the referendum campaign urging people to vote Remain - joined the debate with a joke about needing a new number plate on this Rolls-Royce, which features the EU stars
Although unwilling to speculate about what will happen post-Brexit, the DVLA told MailOnline that it's 'a customer's choice as to whether or not to have a flag on their number plate'.
Meanwhile, motorists across the country have decided to by-pass the confusion and manually remove the EU flags or replace them with Union flag stickers. .
'My number plate fixed, £1.50 for a pair of GB flag stickers from eBay. Perfect,' tweeted one.
Another said: 'Just ordered my Union flag stickers to replace EU flag on number plate (only noticed it today o'wise would have done it ages ago) #Brexit.'
Sky News reporter Ashish Joshi spotted a number plate in London which looked as though someone had tried to peel away the EU flag, and added the caption: 'It's come to this'.
But traffic law specialists have voiced concern that these motorists could be risking potential prosecution and a massive fine.
'The regulations with a number plate are very descriptive, so they have clear permitted fonts, sizes, that sort of thing,' Alex Garner, road traffic law specialist at Stephensons law firm, told MailOnline.
'Any attempt to cover up part of the registration number itself would absolutely be an offence.
'With covering up the flags, you have to be careful not to interfere with the visibility of the registration number. So using a reflective material like duct tape could interfere with a speed camera flash for example, or using a black masking tape in a thin strip could look like a '1' or an 'L'.
EU who? Sky News reporter Ashish Joshi spotted this apparent attempt to remove the EU flag from a number plate in London
Concern: Motorists across the UK have expressed concern that they will be stuck with the bill if they are forced to change the EU flags currently displayed on their registration plates
'Interfering with the visibility of the number would be an offence and would result in a prosecution. That would mean a level three fine, which could be anywhere up to £1,000.
'So covering up the EU part of the number plate isn't in itself an offence, but in general tampering with a number plate is very ill-advised.'
The question over number plates is the latest to have been met with a bureaucratic shrug, as mystery continues to surround exactly how the EU-UK divorce will take place.
'It's one of those great unknowns and it's very unclear,' said AA spokesman Jack Cousens.
'What we hope is that whatever is discovered during negotiations, that there is minimal impact on our members and motorists, and that whatever is doing is done in a way that is cost effective and at a convenient point.
'It also has wider implications for passports and driving licences which all fall into the same category.'
But motorists are concerned that, whatever decision is made, they are the ones that will have to foot the bill.
'Who's going to pay to change my number plate back??? Didn't hear the answer in the Brexit EUref!!!' wrote one.
Another added: 'If Brexit win I will be sending the bill for the replacement of my number plate, driving licence and passport straight to the c**** at UKIP.'
Even former Top Gear presenter James May joined in the debate, while filming for his new Amazon show 'Grand Tour', tweeting: 'Oh c**k. We're going to need a new number plate on the Rolls-Royce. #C**pBrexitJoke.'
It came after hundreds of Top Gear fans sparked a bizarre Top Gear conspiracy theory, after the number plate of a different Rolls-Royce featured on the programme seemed to spell out 'Brexit'.
Dirty: One Twitter user shared this image of his van's number plate, saying he prefers to just avoid cleaning the EU flag rather than go to the effort of covering it up
Recommended: Despite advice from lawyers that tampering with a number plate is ill-advised, this Twitter user recommended people use black tape to cover their EU flags
In April 2001, any motorists not displaying the EU stars on their number plate were threatened with being pulled over by police, prosecuted or fined up to £1,000, as new regulations were approved.
It meant that other UK national flags - including the Union flag, the St George Cross, the St Andrew cross and the Red Dragon of Wales - were outlawed.
The then-Transport Minister Keith Hill insisted at the time that it was 'not a major deal', and was merely an attempt to implement an EU directive to harmonise plates in the interests of 'clarity and safety'.
'The Government has absolutely no desire to impede perfectly proper displays of national pride. Vehicle keepers may continue to use stickers and transfers,' he said.
'We simply do not believe that the number plate is the right place for such flags and logos.'
But the 'creeping Euro-federalism' sparked a furious row that lasted for almost a decade until the decision was reversed.
In April 2009, the Department for Transport (DfT) triumphantly announced the motorists had the legal go-ahead to once again display UK flags on their number plates.
Conspiracy: Hundreds of Top Gear fans expressed delight or dismay about this Rolls-Royce number plate, which appeared to spell out 'Brexit'
Savvy: One Twitter user headed to eBay to stock up on Union flag stickers to replace his EU flag
'This is what the people of England, Scotland and Wales have asked for and strengthens their feeling of national identity,' declared then Transport Minister John Spellar.
In the intervening years, however, many had already decided to settle for the EU stars.
Currently, motorists can display any of the UK national flags on the left-hand side of their number plates, including the Union flag, St George cross, St Andrew cross and the Red Dragon of Wales.
The letters, or national identifiers, permitted include GB, UK, CYM, ENG, SCO and WALES.
But motorists who choose to display one of these options still need a standard GB sticker when travelling in Europe.
Those who choose to display the EU flag and the letters GB, however, can drive in EU countries without additional stickers.
Many are already furious about the prospect of paying to remove the EU plates that were forced into legislation just over a decade ago.
Today, the DVLA said it was 'too early to say' what would happen now that the UK has voted to leave the EU, heightening confusion about what will happen when the new registration numbers come out in September.
Although unwilling to speculate about what will happen post-Brexit, the DVLA told MailOnline that it's 'a customer's choice as to whether or not to have a flag on their number plate'.
Meanwhile, motorists across the country have decided to by-pass the confusion and manually remove the EU flags or replace them with Union flag stickers.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Top Gear fans sparked a bizarre Top Gear conspiracy theory, after the number plate of a different Rolls-Royce featured on the programme seemed to spell out 'Brexit'.
In April 2001, any motorists not displaying the EU stars on their number plate were threatened with being pulled over by police, prosecuted or fined up to £1,000, as new regulations were approved.
It meant that other UK national flags - including the Union flag, the St George Cross, the St Andrew cross and the Red Dragon of Wales - were outlawed.
British drivers use black tape and Union Flag stickers to cover up EU stars on their number plates - because 'it's time to take back control after Brexit'
Drivers across Britain asking what will happen with EU number plates
Union stickers plastered over stars while others covered up with black tape
Motorists run the risk of £1,000 if number itself is obscured
It's the latest in a string of questions raised about complexity of the split
Drivers worry that, whatever the outcome, they will be stuck with the bill
By Imogen Calderwood For Mailonline
8 July 2016
British motorists confused about what will happen to the EU stars on their number plates in the wake of Brexit are using stickers and black tape to cover up the offending flags.
Many are already furious about the prospect of paying to remove the EU plates that were forced into legislation just over a decade ago.
Today, the DVLA said it was 'too early to say' what would happen now that the UK has voted to leave the EU, heightening confusion about what will happen when the new registration numbers come out in September.
Practical: Some Twitter users have given up on the debate and decided to take matters into their own hands, putting Union flag stickers over the EU stars on their number plates
Solution: Drivers have decided not to wait for Government guidance and come up with their own answers
Celebrity: Former Top Gear presenter James May - who made a video with colleague Jeremy Clarkson during the referendum campaign urging people to vote Remain - joined the debate with a joke about needing a new number plate on this Rolls-Royce, which features the EU stars
Although unwilling to speculate about what will happen post-Brexit, the DVLA told MailOnline that it's 'a customer's choice as to whether or not to have a flag on their number plate'.
Meanwhile, motorists across the country have decided to by-pass the confusion and manually remove the EU flags or replace them with Union flag stickers. .
'My number plate fixed, £1.50 for a pair of GB flag stickers from eBay. Perfect,' tweeted one.
Another said: 'Just ordered my Union flag stickers to replace EU flag on number plate (only noticed it today o'wise would have done it ages ago) #Brexit.'
Sky News reporter Ashish Joshi spotted a number plate in London which looked as though someone had tried to peel away the EU flag, and added the caption: 'It's come to this'.
But traffic law specialists have voiced concern that these motorists could be risking potential prosecution and a massive fine.
'The regulations with a number plate are very descriptive, so they have clear permitted fonts, sizes, that sort of thing,' Alex Garner, road traffic law specialist at Stephensons law firm, told MailOnline.
'Any attempt to cover up part of the registration number itself would absolutely be an offence.
'With covering up the flags, you have to be careful not to interfere with the visibility of the registration number. So using a reflective material like duct tape could interfere with a speed camera flash for example, or using a black masking tape in a thin strip could look like a '1' or an 'L'.
EU who? Sky News reporter Ashish Joshi spotted this apparent attempt to remove the EU flag from a number plate in London
Concern: Motorists across the UK have expressed concern that they will be stuck with the bill if they are forced to change the EU flags currently displayed on their registration plates
'Interfering with the visibility of the number would be an offence and would result in a prosecution. That would mean a level three fine, which could be anywhere up to £1,000.
'So covering up the EU part of the number plate isn't in itself an offence, but in general tampering with a number plate is very ill-advised.'
The question over number plates is the latest to have been met with a bureaucratic shrug, as mystery continues to surround exactly how the EU-UK divorce will take place.
'It's one of those great unknowns and it's very unclear,' said AA spokesman Jack Cousens.
'What we hope is that whatever is discovered during negotiations, that there is minimal impact on our members and motorists, and that whatever is doing is done in a way that is cost effective and at a convenient point.
'It also has wider implications for passports and driving licences which all fall into the same category.'
But motorists are concerned that, whatever decision is made, they are the ones that will have to foot the bill.
'Who's going to pay to change my number plate back??? Didn't hear the answer in the Brexit EUref!!!' wrote one.
Another added: 'If Brexit win I will be sending the bill for the replacement of my number plate, driving licence and passport straight to the c**** at UKIP.'
Even former Top Gear presenter James May joined in the debate, while filming for his new Amazon show 'Grand Tour', tweeting: 'Oh c**k. We're going to need a new number plate on the Rolls-Royce. #C**pBrexitJoke.'
It came after hundreds of Top Gear fans sparked a bizarre Top Gear conspiracy theory, after the number plate of a different Rolls-Royce featured on the programme seemed to spell out 'Brexit'.
Dirty: One Twitter user shared this image of his van's number plate, saying he prefers to just avoid cleaning the EU flag rather than go to the effort of covering it up
Recommended: Despite advice from lawyers that tampering with a number plate is ill-advised, this Twitter user recommended people use black tape to cover their EU flags
In April 2001, any motorists not displaying the EU stars on their number plate were threatened with being pulled over by police, prosecuted or fined up to £1,000, as new regulations were approved.
It meant that other UK national flags - including the Union flag, the St George Cross, the St Andrew cross and the Red Dragon of Wales - were outlawed.
The then-Transport Minister Keith Hill insisted at the time that it was 'not a major deal', and was merely an attempt to implement an EU directive to harmonise plates in the interests of 'clarity and safety'.
'The Government has absolutely no desire to impede perfectly proper displays of national pride. Vehicle keepers may continue to use stickers and transfers,' he said.
'We simply do not believe that the number plate is the right place for such flags and logos.'
But the 'creeping Euro-federalism' sparked a furious row that lasted for almost a decade until the decision was reversed.
In April 2009, the Department for Transport (DfT) triumphantly announced the motorists had the legal go-ahead to once again display UK flags on their number plates.
Conspiracy: Hundreds of Top Gear fans expressed delight or dismay about this Rolls-Royce number plate, which appeared to spell out 'Brexit'
Savvy: One Twitter user headed to eBay to stock up on Union flag stickers to replace his EU flag
'This is what the people of England, Scotland and Wales have asked for and strengthens their feeling of national identity,' declared then Transport Minister John Spellar.
In the intervening years, however, many had already decided to settle for the EU stars.
Currently, motorists can display any of the UK national flags on the left-hand side of their number plates, including the Union flag, St George cross, St Andrew cross and the Red Dragon of Wales.
The letters, or national identifiers, permitted include GB, UK, CYM, ENG, SCO and WALES.
But motorists who choose to display one of these options still need a standard GB sticker when travelling in Europe.
Those who choose to display the EU flag and the letters GB, however, can drive in EU countries without additional stickers.
