With hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Michigan using bicycle racks and hitch devices, the unintended consequences of the ruling were dramatic. Please give us a call at 218-736-7511, Copyright Number plates, further violations. Number plate to be kept clean (2) Every number plate shall be kept free from dirt and obstruction and shall be affixed so that the entire number plate, including the numbers, is plainly visible at all times, and the view of the number plate shall not be obscured or obstructed by spare tires, bumper bars, any part of the . BROOKLYN (PIX11) Adam White keeps an eye out for license plates as he moves around the city. If so, it is critical that you explore you defense options with a proven West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney. A lot of people have license plate frames or license plate covers on their vehicles, and I'm here to warn you that you might want to consider removing your frame or cover, or anything that you have around your license plate. leads to drug trafficking, weapons charges By Jeanelle Mandes Global News Posted December 6, 2022 4:08 pm License plates cannot be displayed in the front windshield or the rear window, they must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. Jesse Grabow Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. Updated May 27, 2021. It is not uncommon for those involved in criminal activity to obstruct license plates. Only one set of Maine registration plates may be displayed on one vehicle. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Do your shopping at Amazon Smile and Amazon will make a 0.5% donation to League of Michigan Bicyclists. Fines for obstructed license plate violations would increase to $250. (a) License plates, including temporary license plates, shall be displayed as follows: (1) For a tractor, a dump truck, or a truck with a rear-mounted forklift or a mechanism to carry a rear-mounted forklift or implement, upon the front of the vehicle. All plates must be securely fastened so as to prevent them from swinging, displayed horizontally with the identifying numbers and letters facing outward from the vehicle, and mounted in the upright position. We conclude that the plain language of (the section of state law) is clear and unambiguous, and requires that a license plate be plainly visible and legible at all times without regard to whether the obscuring matter is on or external to the plate, wrote the majority in the case opinion. The odds of your winning the case if you want to fight it are low, and since you're lot looking at points, the easiest way to resolve it is to simply pay the ticket. Governor Snyder signed our obstructed license bill, HB 5100, into law on May 16, 2018! Every license plate shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to which it is assigned: 1. Immediately after the ruling, Michigan bicyclists began receiving traffic citations solely for having a bicycle rack on their vehicles. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5. I looked up the statute on WestLaw and it's clear that it doesn't matter that my license plate was actually visible - any cover counts as an "obstruction." My question is this - what's the best way to proceed from here? Orlando police had pulled English over due to a tag light and its wiring hanging over his license plate. How license plates fastened to vehicle; altering appearance of license plates. Phone: 866-483-6821 | Local Phone: 561.720.2417, Justices: Police Can Conduct Stops for Obstructed License Plates, Unlicensed Practice of Health Care Profession, Featured News Coverage, Publications, and Interviews, Inaugural Second Chance Scholarship Announcement, Florida Fraud Case Prompts SCOTUS Assets Decision, Attorney Ron Herman Appointed to Wellington Public Safety Committee. The plate shall be attached at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measured from the bottom of the plate, in a place and position that is clearly visible. If police are provided a license number of a hit-and-run car but the person doesnt see what state the car is from, are they still able to identify the car? Can you get a parking ticket for an obstructed plate? Laws, c. 39, 1 ; 2140E. This license plate was introduced in 2000, and 31.5 million sets of these plates were manufactured before a new general-issue license plate was launched in 2009. Since roughly 2005, manufacturers have sold spray on formulas that are invisible to the eye, but, obstruct the cameras and equipment required for reading tolls. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us). 320.0706 for front-end registration license plates on truck tractors and s. 320.086(5) which exempts display of license plates on described former military vehicles, display the license plate or both of the license plates assigned to it by the state, one on the rear and, if two, the other on the front of the vehicle, each to be securely . (A)(1) No person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the rear of the motor vehicle a license plate that displays the distinctive number and registration mark assigned to the motor vehicle by the director of public safety, including any county identification sticker and any validation sticker when required by and issued under sections 4503.19 . If frame or cover does not obstruct plate, it . We won't share it with anyone else. An obstructed license plate is a violation of motor vehicle law, not a crime. CVC 5201 addresses issues related to license plates on vehicles operated in California. In our effort to help her we noticed that many license plates have a frame around them that obscures the actual state and only the numbers and letters are visible. (2) every number plate shall be kept free from dirt and obstruction and shall be affixed so that the entire number plate, including the numbers, is plainly visible at all times, and the view of the number plate shall not be obscured or obstructed by spare tires, bumper bars, any part of the vehicle, any attachments to the vehicle or the load (2) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), for every other vehicle, upon the rear of the vehicle. Specifically: The plate should be currently valid and visible. A person shall display the license plate or plates as follows: 1. These plates represent the last of a Texas era. (a.1) Motorcycle registration plate.-- (1) A registration plate issued for a motorcycle may be mounted on the motorcycle in a vertical manner if: (i) the identifying characters on the plate are displayed in a vertical alignment; and (ii) the mounting complies with all other provisions of this section. 4 Ways to Beat an NYC Parking Ticket because of Snow, Obscure Parking Ticket Rules and Other Weird Stuff in Parking Ticket Land. 2012 Statute. This also includes obstructing license plate brackets that block the state of issuance and tabs. The possibilities under which law enforcement may now detain drivers under this statute are limited only by the imagination.. Not every justice believed that the state law addressed incidents when license plates were unintentionally obstructed. 341.15 Display of registration plates. Note that officers often write the citation as 5200 VC or 5200 CVC as short for the Califonia Vehicle Code.. To answer your question: We can identify a vehicle using the license plate number without knowing what state it is from, but it makes it more difficult and can take up significant time. While most of the dealer license plate frames here are technically illegal as they cover some writing on the plate, it is almost never enforced, unless a pre-text stop is needed. Have any questions? It's also a non-moving violation so doesn't generate points against your license. . Is it legal to have something masking or obscuring part of the license plate information? During that traffic stop, the officers also found English in possession of marijuana, cocaine, and paraphernalia. so that the lettering is plainly visible at all times. (a) The owner of a motor vehicle may apply to the Division of Motor Vehicles for the assignment to that vehicle of a special "Bicycle Friendly Delaware" registration plate. the exact wording of 402.1 (b) is " number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to be readable and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic material, and shall not be knowingly. License plates issued to vehicles must display the month of expiration in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the lower right corner of each plate. Obstructed License Plate Case Leads to Major NJ Court Decision on Search and Seizure Law: Search and Seizure Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. License plates assigned to a motor vehicle, other than a moped, motorcycle, autocycle, tractor truck, trailer, or semitrailer, or to persons licensed as motor vehicle dealers or transporters of unladen vehicles, shall be attached to the front and the rear of the vehicle. 410 S. Cedar St. Suite ALansing, MI 48912, Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL): Bicycles and the Law, Obstructed License Plate Bill Signed Into Law. This also includes obstructing license plate brackets that block the state of issuance and tabs. Virginia law, in section 46.2-716, says that you have to have your plate mounted in . Question: My granddaughter had a project where she was trying to locate the license plates from all the different states. Contact us today to request a free case evaluation. 8 Comments - At least in the Town of Wayland, if you happen to be providing free advertising for an auto dealership or your favorite team or school - 2015, ch. Clarifies law to prevent motorists from receiving tickets for a bike rack on the rear of their vehicles. Last year, nearly 12,000 people received a ticket for an obstructed license plate. (d) a casing, shield, frame, border, product, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote emission License plates cannot be displayed in the front windshield or the rear window, they must be displayed on the front and rear of . Also we saw many license plates that have a type of shade over it. If police are provided a license number of a hit-and-run car but the person doesnt see what state the car is from, are they still able to identify the car? It will be obstructed by the rear tire. The person driving the motor vehicle shall keep the plate legible and unobstructed and free from grease, dust, or other blurring material (dirt, mud, snow, etc.) Obstructed licence plate in Melfort, Sask. var year = today.getFullYear() Answer: Minnesota law states that the license plates cannot be obstructed and lays out how license plate registration is to be displayed. The license plates for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or motor vehicle being transported by a licensed vehicle transporter must be attached thereto, one in the rear and, except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, one in the front. Vehicle Code 5200 is the California statute that requires owners of motor vehicles to fasten and display license plates on their vehicles. In the realm of license plates, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that states have the right to reject controversial specialty license plates, like one from the Sons of Confederate. For a motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer, on the rear. Answer: Minnesota law states that the license plates cannot be obstructed and lays out how license plate registration is to be displayed. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Laws, c. 364, 1 ; 82 Del. The license plates must be clearly visible and legible. Yo. You can have a license plate frame but it cannot obstruct the needed information. Special bicycle friendly license plates. The attachment to the rear of a vehicle of a tow ball, bicycle rack, removable hitch, or any other device designed to carry an object on the rear of a vehicle, including the object being carried, does not violate this subsection.. Facsimile license plates . In a position to be clearly visible, and 3. The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that an obstructed license plate on the road does justify traffic stops by law enforcement. 5. Subdivision 1(b) of VTL 402 prohibits driving with obstructed, damaged, or obscured plates. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner or operator to ensure . Display of license plates. Log in, The Obstructed Plate Crackdown You Need to Know About, NYC Parking Ticket Land News, Interviews, and Expert Insights, NYC Parking Ticket New, Revealing Required Elements Redux, 10 Sure-Fire Ways to Beat Status Violation Parking Tickets, Dont Park in Front of an NYC Driveway until you read this. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. WARNING: Your License Plate may be Unlawfully "OBSTRUCTED" in Violation of NY's Vehicle & Traffic Law Posted by Arthur J. Giacalone on September 25, 2014 Posted in: White Privilege . Wrong, Fictitious, Altered, or Obscured License Plate (a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or displays on a motor vehicle a license plate that: (1) is issued for a different motor vehicle; (2) is issued for the vehicle under any other motor vehicle law other than by the department; (3) This new law, Public Act 147 of 2018, clarifies the definition of an obstructed license plate to exclude bicycle racks and other rear-mounted devices. If police are provided a license number of a hit-and-run car but the person doesnt see what state the car is from, are they still able to identify the car? (2) For every other vehicle, upon the rear of the vehicle. Customer Success: Fight Fire Hydrant Parking Ticket and Win! The view of such number plates shall not be obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon, except for a . The 5-2 split decision concerned the case of Jermaine D. English. Invalid password or account does not exist. Once again, if you get pulled over for this violation, the police may find other reasons to give you a ticket or have probable cause for an arrest. 13. A Kansas registered vehicle shall have no registration plate for any year on the front of the vehicle, except . At Herman Law, P.A., Attorney Ron D. Herman is a former prosecutor who now protects the rights and interests of the accused and ensures that every one of his clients has their voice heard before the law. Answer (1 of 3): Is the infraction, "Obstructed license plate" (trailer hitch ball), a crime? Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. This entry was published on 2021-11-05. . Section 402 (1) (b) of Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) has been amended effective Nov. 1, 2021, to increase fines for knowingly covering or coating license plates with material or substance that. Create a password that only you will remember. Plates / obstructed / dirty / insecure / none / one / no distinct number / covered by glass/plastic : 402: 2: More than 1 State plate/no contrast of color : 402: 3: Unregistered trailer : 402: 4: Improper plates: 402: 5: Permitted improper use of plates : 402: 6: Owner of vehicle used wrong plate : 402 : Registration tag not on windshield : 403-a This also includes obstructing license plate brackets that block the state of issuance and tabs. Published: May. Englishs counsel tried the argue that evidence against his clients should be suppressed because the officers had no probable cause to pull English over in the first place. Coaches and rosters announced for Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game, Soon open for appointments: Ottertail Clinic will see patients once again, Jumping up: Truth in Taxation meeting scheduled, Senator-elect Rasmusson announces property tax relief package, Trailer home lost in fire in Oak Valley Township, Alexandria man charged in construction swindle. Perry believed that law was intended to punish drivers who had intentionally defaced their license plate and that the majoritys interpretation of the law was far too broad. Law enforcement claimed Dunbar violated MCL 257.225 (2) which states that a vehicles license plate should be free from foreign materials that obscure or partially obscure the registration information.. Their solution is there is no way to solve the issue. Jesse Grabow Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. The plate should be mounted to the car in the proper place to be free of obstruction. A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. A. We went to the dealers that sold Lufrano and Pride their cars, and both said they never. : Minnesota law states that the license plates cannot be obstructed and lays out how license plate registration is to be displayed. Yes, they're . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Herman Law, P.A. License plates; attachment; civil penalty. Ohio law requires that license plates be in "plain view" in both the front and rear of a vehicle on the road, and that they should not obstructed by anything. Choose wisely! Commemorative Lewis and Clark number plates. Your email address will not be published. License plates cannot be displayed in the front windshield or the rear window, they must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. HB 5100 was signed into law and became PA 147 of 2018. "Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly seen repeat violators avoid a registration suspension by simply reregistering the vehicle with a family member or friend. (605 ILCS 10/27.2) Sec. The outrageous obstructed license plate fine in Florida was for a motorcycle, not a car. Won't advise you not to fight it, but it is likely a losing proposition DaveTheCanuck Well-known member Site Supporter Jul 23, 2015 #10 And that picture is taken with nobody on the bike. However, the court majority preferred a 2014 5th District Court of Appeal precedent which embraced a wider, zero-tolerance view of the law. Englishs counsel had also pointed to a previous 2nd District Court of Appeal decision that involved circumstances similar to what Justice Perry describes. HB 5100 was signed into law and became PA 147 of 2018. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection, for a vehicle for which two license plates are issued, the vehicle owner shall display either of the following: 81 Del. By: Bob Bianchi Partner The Bianchi Law Group, LLC 2019 For some time now, NJ defense attorneys have been complaining about a police practice of pulling motorists over for partially "obstructed" license plates. No other numbers to be exposed. You can have a license plate frame but it cannot obstruct the needed information. According to Illinois law, any type of frames or coverings which "obstruct the visibility or electronic image recording of the plate" are illegal. Last month's Bamboozled column about oversized license plate frames and obstructed plate traffic violations spurred dozens of readers to share their plate frame sightings. The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that an obstructed license plate on the road does justify traffic stops by law enforcement. A registration plate must be attached to the front and the rear of each vehicle except as follows. (a) display license plates issued to one motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer on any other motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer unless legally transferred as provided by statute; or (b) repaint old license plates to resemble current license plates. 07, 2022, 2:00 p.m. New Yorkers who use obstructed license plates to avoid tickets and tolls are subject to fines ranging from $25 to $300, according to state law. license plates. Whenever only one registration plate is issued for a vehicle, the plate shall be attached as follows: (a) If the vehicle is a truck tractor or road tractor or a motor . The diver in the case did not violate any other traffic laws prior to the traffic stop. (1) Except as otherwise specifically provided, no person shall operate or park or cause to be operated or parked a motor vehicle or tow or park or cause to be towed or parked a trailer on the highways unless such motor vehicle or trailer has displayed the proper number of plates as required in the Motor Vehicle Registration Act. License plate covers are not allowed. It's kind of akin to a parking ticket. To answer your question: We can identify a vehicle using the license plate number without knowing what state it is from, but it makes it more difficult and can take up significant time. We had our two ebikes on a Thule hitch rack. Is it legal to have something masking or obscuring part of the license plate information? Section 5200 states that: - GENERAL PROVISIONS. I'm a Virginia traffic attorney. Justice James E.C. Also we saw many license plates that have a type of shade over it. 2. Is it legal to have something masking or obscuring part of the license plate information? All of the numbers and letters should be visible, and any other identifying markers. After this incident I called the PA department of transportation in search of a resolve. 1. | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy. Manner of display. (j) A person may not modify the original manufacturer's mounting location of the rear registration plate or digital registration plate on any vehicle so as to conceal the registration or to knowingly cause it to be obstructed in an effort to hinder a peace officer from obtaining the registration for the enforcement of a violation of this Code . The state Supreme Court, in a ruling heralded by civil libertarians as a check on law enforcement power, ruled Monday that police cannot pull over a motorist merely because their license . Section 402 (1) (b) of Vehicle and Traffic Law has been amended, effective Nov. 1 of this year, to increase fines for knowingly covering or coating license plates with material or substance that conceals, obscures, or distorts the plates by any part of the vehicle, or anything carried thereon. The license plate issued for all other vehicles required to be . A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. The fine for license plate obstruction is $54, not counting fees. The reach of this ruling set a dangerous precedent as it broadly interrupted the definition of foreign materials. The justices, however, disagreed. there is a reason the manufacturer doesn't position the plate where you have it. Repealed by S.L. var today = new Date() 46.2-715. (6) It is a gross misdemeanor for a resident, as identified in RCW 46.16A.140, to register a vehicle in another state, evading the payment of any tax or vehicle license fee imposed in connection with registration. Representative Holy Hughes introduced HB 5100, cosponsored by Representatives Steve Marino, Peter Lucido, John Reilly, and Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, on October 12, 2017. The decision settles several contradicting court precedents on an important matter of probable cause and citizen rights. In our effort to help her we noticed that many license plates have a frame around them that obscures the actual state and only the numbers and letters are visible. This also includes obstructing license plate brackets that block the state of issuance and tabs. 0:45. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The section requires that vehicles required to have a license plate have that plate securely fastened to the vehicle at all times. In State v.Carter (A-66-19/083221) and State v. Roman-Rosado (A-67-19/084074) (Decided August 2, 2021), the Supreme Court of New Jersey addressed when police officers can stop motorists with covered license plates. License Plate Frame - Lastingly Bling License Plate Frame - Sparkly Rhinestone License Plate Frame for Women - Stainless Steel & Obstruction-Free License Plate Frame (AB) USD Now $10.72 was $42.77 $42.77 A few weeks ago on our way to the Pine Creek trail in northeast Pennsylvania we were stopped for by a state trooper for having an obscured car license plate. The director shall make a general issue during the biennium beginning July 1, 2013, and ending June 30, 2015, and continuing into the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2017. Governor Snyder signed our obstructed license bill, HB 5100, into law on May 16, 2018! You can have a license plate frame but it cannot obstruct the needed information. The primary requirements for automobile license plates are very straightforward. Display of license plate. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. (b) 260, 1. (b) License plates issued to vehicles registered under section 168.127 must display either fleet registration validation stickers in the lower right corner of each plate or distinctive license plates, issued by the registrar, with "FLEET REG" displayed on the bottom center portion of each plate. Fargo, ND, USA / The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO. There are also no points associated with it. It is unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the name of the state of origin of a license plate with any material whatsoever, including any clear or colorless material that affects the plates visibility or reflectivity. It is punishable, in lieu of the fine in subsection (4) of this section, as follows: Under the majoritys view, the licensing statute could lead to potentially outrageous results, Justice Perry wrote in his opinion. As of July 3, 2022, the NYPD has issued 16,448 tickets to drivers for using illegal or obstructed license plates, towed 1,700 vehicles, and seized 2,478 vehicles. : My granddaughter had a project where she was trying to locate the license plates from all the different states. Because of the Supreme Court decision, rear-mounted bicycle racks, tow balls, trailers, boats, campers, motorcycles, jet skis, ORVs or anything else that can be attached to the rear of a vehicle could be considered an obstruction and grounds for a traffic stop. The new law states that a vehicles license plate "shall be maintained free from foreign materials . I just got a $110 ticket for "obstruction of license plate" on my car for having a clear plastic cover over my license plate. Do you believe the police did not have probable cause to pull you over or search your property? B. It is not uncommon for those involved in criminal activity to obstruct license plates. So as to prevent the plate from swinging, 2. No person shall knowingly authorize or permit a number plate issued All plates must be securely fastened so as to prevent them from swinging, displayed horizontally with the identifying numbers and letters facing outward from the vehicle, and mounted in the upright position. The obstructed license plate ticket is not a moving violation. In 2016, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in People v. Dunbar, that law enforcement were within their legal means to stop a driver whose license plate was partially obstructed by a hitch mounted tow ball. The bill sought to clarify the meaning of an obstruction of a license plate to exclude bicycle racks, tow balls, and any other device used to carry an object on the rear of a vehicle. 39-04-09.1. 605 ILCS 10/27.2. Article 1. (b) A license plate shall be: (1) securely fastened, in a horizontal and upright position that displays the . This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. The fine is now not less than $50 or more than $300. Under the court's unanimous decision, if a frame conceals or obscures a marking in a way that it can't reasonably be identified or discerned, the driver would be in violation of . A person may not alter the original appearance of a vehicle registration certificate, license plate, temporary license plate, mobile home sticker, or validation sticker issued for and assigned to a motor vehicle or mobile home, whether by mutilation, alteration, defacement, or change of color or in any other manner. Question: My granddaughter had a project where she was trying to locate the license plates from all the different states. Drivers can expect substantial punishment. NRS 482.275 License plates: Display. obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon, except for a receiver-transmitter issued by a publicly owned tolling facility in connection with electronic toll collection when such receiver-transmitter is affixed to the exterior of a vehicle in accordance with mounting instructions provided by the tolling facility. From 2015 to last year, $21 million fines were issued for various charges of obscuring license plates. 1. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us). A. Obstruction of registration plate or digital registration plate visibility to electronic image recording. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Position of registration plate. (d) a casing, shield, frame, border, product, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote (b) A license plate shall be: Answer: Minnesota law states that the license plates cannot be obstructed and lays out how license plate registration is to be displayed. (a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or displays on a motor vehicle a license plate that: (1) is issued for a different motor vehicle; (2) is issued for the vehicle under any other motor vehicle law other than by the department; (3) is assigned for a registration period other than the registration period in effect; Indiana - The license plate shall not be obstructed by tires, bumpers, accessories, or other opaque objects. 27.2. (a) except as provided in subsection (8) (a) of this section, an owner or the owner's authorized representative must apply for a replacement license plate or plates: (i) when taking ownership of the vehicle; (ii) if the current license plate or plates assigned to the vehicle have been lost, defaced, or destroyed; or (iii) if one or both plates The design has the distinction of being the last stamped plate in Texas history, and also the last general-issue plate issued with six . For example, families and avid bikers who utilize rear bike racks will now be guilty of unlawful activity if any part of the bicycle or bicycle rackor the nylon straps which are used to secure the bike to the rackcovers the license plate. You have permission to edit this article. Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. Something seemingly simple can turn into a big deal. It is unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the name of the state of origin of a license plate with any material whatever, including any clear or colorless material that affects the plate's visibility or reflectivity. The 5-2 split decision concerned the case of Jermaine D. English. Liam Quigley, 29, is on a mission to fix illegally obscured license plates an effort to hold accountable scofflaws who fiddle with their tags to make them unreadable to toll and speed cameras and posted a montage of his work on Twitter Thursday. 39-04-10. The decision settles several contradicting court precedents on an important matter of probable cause and citizen rights. The plate shall be maintained free from foreign materials that obscure or partially obscure the registration information and in a clearly legible condition. plates belonging to the state shall be under the control of the commissioner. License plates issued to vehicles must display the month of expiration in the lower left. 8-133. In mid-November, while commuting by bike, he says he saw piece of plastic covering part o In our effort to help her we noticed that many license plates have a frame around them that obscures the actual state and only the numbers and letters are visible. This new law, Public Act 147 of 2018, clarifies the definition of an obstructed license plate to exclude bicycle racks and other rear-mounted devices. The new law states that a vehicles license plateshall be maintained free from foreign materials that obscure or partially obscure the registration information and in a clearly legible condition. You can have a license plate frame but it cannot obstruct the needed information. Wick Communications. Because it is OBSTRUCTED. In addition, the Sheriff's Office has seized over 800 vehicles since July 2021, most of which had fictitious license plates from various states. Terms Used In Indiana Code 9-18.1-4-4. Should a license plate return a no match or be the same a license plate that is reported . (1) except for license plates specified as exempt, the fee for issuance of a license plate, including replacement plates, is in addition to each other fee that is paid for at the time of the registration of the motor vehicle and shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund; document.write(year) But under one recent Ohio court of appeals case, this charge has many potential holes if it is used by an officer to open the door to a prolonged traffic stop or more serious charge. Do you know these 3 Obscure NYC Parking Rules? A registration plate must be displayed horizontally. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. The license plate assigned to the vehicle shall be attached to the rear thereof and shall be so displayed during the current registration year or years. which begins at the start of the summer driving season, How to Fight an NYC Parking Ticket for Obstructing a Traffic Lane, How to beat 3 NYC Parking Tickets for Obstructing. Illegally obstructed plates cost NY millions of dollars in lost revenue, Law enforcement crackdown on obstructed plates. 2. so that the lettering is plainly visible at all times. 452. (a) A person may not operate on a toll highway any motor vehicle that is equipped with tinted plastic or tinted glass registration plate or digital registration plate covers or any covers . 46.2-716. Display of license plates. License plates issued to vehicles must display the month of expiration in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the lower right corner of each plate. In a condition to be clearly legible. Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription. The person driving the motor vehicle shall keep the plate legible and unobstructed and free from grease, dust, or other blurring material (dirt, mud, snow, etc.) The bill sought to clarify the meaning of an "obstruction" of a license plate to exclude bicycle racks, tow balls, and any other device used to carry an object on the rear of a vehicle. Failure to do so is an infraction punishable by a $197.00 fine, plus court costs. Article 3: REGISTRATION PLATES. 1601 Forum Place, Suite 201 West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. It is unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the name of the state of origin of a license plate with any material whatever, including any clear or colorless material that affects the plates visibility or reflectivity. In 2016, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in People v. Dunbar, that law enforcement were within their legal . A. Allowing a court to block a vehicle identification number will close this loophole," Solages and Brooks wrote. Therefore, it is not a violation of this section if the reading or recognition of a rear license plate is obstructed or impaired by a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier and all of the following requirements are met: (A) The owner of the vehicle has been issued a special identification license plate pursuant to Section 5007, or the person . Therefore, it is not a violation of this section if the reading or recognition of a rear license plate is obstructed or impaired by a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier and all of the following requirements are met: (A) The owner of the vehicle has been issued a special identification license plate pursuant to Section 5007 , or the person . In that case, the court ruled that drivers whose license plates were blocked by a trailer hitch could not be pulled over by police for license plate obstruction. (1) Whenever 2 registration plates are issued for a vehicle, one plate shall be attached to the front and one to the rear of the vehicle. Also we saw many license plates that have a type of shade over it. Want to learn more about what our firm can do for you during this uncertain time? A registration plate is illegally altered for purposes of this section if the plate has been altered, modified, covered or obscured in any manner including, but not limited to, the following: (a) Any change of the color, configuration, numbers, letters or material of the plate. 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