Whilst I fully understand and support the character font and sizing requirement for ANPR purposes having fitted an Evotech tail tidy a reduced plate size plus the 3D gel letters finished off the tail end a treat. So technically the bike may not be legal as I understand that the plate’s required position is related to either the rear wheel or its axle, hence the ludicrous stalk they stick it on. I couldn’t find the regulation determining this just that it had to be on the centreline or the offside of the machine.
There would appear to be a misunderstanding of the question being asked in the post. The reason given for the stop was a random safety check. The question asked was what is unsafe with an undersized plate. Answer, nothing, so no moaning involved. However the plate was illegal and the guy quite rightly got a ticket.
FFS! What's your problem? Strange people about? look in the mirror. None of us were bolshy and tbh the chap who got the ticket had recently bought the bike privately so I'm pretty sure he didn't put the plate on himself. The plate didn't look that small to me, but obviously small enough for our over zealous official to reach for his book of tickets. Mebbe he murdered the bloke who sold him the bike afterwards??