By GINA CERASIOTIS

Probationary and learner drivers are questioning if hand-drawn P and L plates are legal.

One Monash student took to social media via Monash Stalkerspace, a university Facebook page, looking for clarification.

A post on the page featuring a parked car with drawn green P plates asked if it was legal or could potentially lead to trouble.

One response said it would guarantee police would stop the car, while others said there was no requirement to buy plates, as long as they were clearly visible.

Green probationary driver Kayla Attard said many people were confused about the issue.

“I just think that we have to display them, and that it does not matter if they are drawn just as long as people can tell they are there," she said.

“But the rules are not very clear.”

Road safety legislation outlines the following requirements for displaying the plates:

• Plates must be at the front and rear of the vehicle
• Plates must be visible from 20m behind and ahead of the vehicle
• Plates must measure about 150mm by 150mm

The legislation does not specify if the plates must be the commercially made version, or if they can be drawn.

Vic Roads makes the matter more confusing by stating they can only be drawn on a coloured background. Plates on white backgrounds can readily be bought from stores.

“It is all just very confusing and unclear,” Ms Attard said.

Victoria Police said the plates had to be correctly displayed.

“It needs to be clear that the driver is a learner or probationary driver,” a police spokesperson said.

“It is rare that a driver would draw the plates and if they were to have drawn them I am not sure that we would pull them over.

“However, it is important that the plates are clearly in display so to bring awareness to the surrounding drivers that these drivers are less experienced, unpredictable, and in their first few years of driving.”

Repco Australia worker Peter Aslanidis said drivers his age were often too lazy to buy the plates.

“They often break from pulling or sun exposure when sharing a car with parents,” he said.

“It may be an easier option to just draw them. I have never seen drawn plates, and I am also not quite sure if there would be a legal problem with it, but there probably should be a clarification.

“Just go out and buy P and L plates. They are like $5 at Repco. See you there.”