A man who proudly told the court he owns several licence plates and interchanges them on his vehicles was fined $12,000 or six months' imprisonment when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident magistrate's court on Friday.

Omar Smith, charged for fraudulent use of licence plates, pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge.

He told the court that on the day in question, he mistakenly placed the wrong licence plate on the car.

Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey immediately told Smith that the offence was considered a strict liability offence.

Smith replied, "Your honour, I own two motor cars and the letters at the end are different and the numbers are the same ... it was an honest mistake."

RM Pusey then said, "I have about three or four at my house and I don't practise to switch because it is unlawful."

Smith was then fined and asked to leave his fingerprints with the police.