In relation to the practice of stealing number plates from registered motor vehicles:

(1) Are the reported figures for the amount of number plates stolen from registered motor vehicles in the ACT available, and if so, what are the figures for

(a) 2000-01 (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03;

(2) What are the penalties in the ACT for stealing number plates from motor vehicles;

(3) Have any of the offenders engaged in the practice of stealing number plates from registered motor vehicles in the ACT been fined or prosecuted in any way and if so, how many fines and / or prosecutions have there been in each of the years at (1) above;

(4) Are there any situations where a motorist is permitted not to display number plates on a registered motor vehicle in the ACT, and if so, what are the conditions in relation to this;

(5) Do ACT police keep a register of stolen number plates and if so, for what period of time are number plates which have been stolen kept on the list;

(6) Are ACT vehicle owners who have reported their number plates stolen immune from fine or prosecution for any traffic offences committed under the use of the stolen number plates once the number plates have been reported stolen to police.

(1) The reported figures for number plates stolen from registered motor vehicles in the ACT are:

(2) The penalty in the ACT for stealing number plates from motor vehicles is subject to a court imposed fine by a magistrate of up to 20 penalty units (or $2000) for a successful conviction.

(3) Given the current method of recording offences on the police computer system, information on the number of persons prosecuted for number plate theft is not available. Such offences would be recorded as a theft offence with the property type stolen listed as