A retired Royal Marine Commando was fined for having the Royal Marine badge printed on his car number plate. Apparently the only things that are allowed to be there are "acceptable international symbols and flags".
Grandfather-of-two David Horlick had a Marine replica badge printed on his car number plate to recognise his service with the Royal Naval School of Music. But the 74-year-old was reduced to tears when two officers gave him a fixed penalty ticket outside his Walton home. They told the widower he had to remove the illegal plate bearing the insignia of the Marines and pay the £30 fine, or go to court.
Mr Horlick said: “I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. I wanted the replica badge on the number plate because my late wife Connie was very proud of the fact I was a Royal Marine.
“I had seen Liverpool and Everton supporters put their badge on their car registration plates, which is understandable. As an ex-Royal Marine I wanted my badge there. “I paid the fine and removed the plate, but I feel hard done to.”
Police said the officers were following strict regulations, and registration plates were allowed to display only “an acceptable international symbol or flag.”
The link has the list of "acceptable" items.
How about a warning next time coppers? Goodness. You'll go after elderly gentlemen and somehow the yobs roam the streets fairly untouched. Maybe that's not fair of me to say, but what I hear is police walking the streets with whistles and little else. Not to mention their contingent of community volunteers who have no authority.
I know I have a soft spot for Royal Marines, but I think on this one I've got it right.
I would just like to know who the heck decided that an international symbol was all well and good, but pride in the British military is not? We are not the world, we are Britain. That's what I would like to see and hear more of. How about a little respect.
It does seem heartless I agree.
Posted by: Pat | February 15, 2008 at 09:55 AM