[Das_Stig]

Originally Posted by wynnnj1977

It happened with me once. It was with dealer plate frame!!!

this is extreme :s

i totally get the whole plastic sheet covers though, you are obviously trying to obstruct and if it's illegal in your state you're asking for the ticket...

op seems like anti government survivalist militia man (may be be his superhero id...)

[grussauto]

You were profiled.....for driving a Bimmer.

[techietaichi]

Originally Posted by Das_Stig

this is extreme :s

i totally get the whole plastic sheet covers though, you are obviously trying to obstruct and if it's illegal in your state you're asking for the ticket...

op seems like anti government survivalist militia man (may be be his superhero id...)

Hahahahaha! I just read this comment, thanks for the laugh dude.

[techietaichi]

Hah, it's been almost four years since I started this thread and I finally got stopped again on the way home a couple of weeks ago. I suspect it was one of them "probable cause" stops, but the Officer was cool. We even chatted a bit about the laws governing the plate cover. Turns out he even ran smoke on HIS car! But whatever. Long story short, I ditched my smoke cover a few days ago and went clear. I guess it was time.

[rsyed07]

I don't know what it is with northern states. When I was there with my E46 for a bit I also got pulled over for having a dealer border around the license plate in NJ. I did not get a ticket but just like OP I was like wow really? It shouldn't even matter because I had FL plates, clearly out of state with different laws and here the NJ trooper had to stop and waste my time.

I feel like reasons like this are why more people flocking down south in big numbers lol.

[techietaichi]

Originally Posted by rsyed07

I feel like reasons like this are why more people flocking down south in big numbers lol.

Small world. I used to live just outside of Tampa in a small town called Valrico.
Yeah, I miss FL....A LOT! Mass sucks gator balls.

[N52UNED]

Originally Posted by rsyed07

I don't know what it is with northern states. When I was there with my E46 for a bit I also got pulled over for having a dealer border around the license plate in NJ. I did not get a ticket but just like OP I was like wow really? It shouldn't even matter because I had FL plates, clearly out of state with different laws and here the NJ trooper had to stop and waste my time.

I feel like reasons like this are why more people flocking down south in big numbers lol.

... sounds like the Trooper was looking for a probable cause to pull you over. OR your vehicle matched a description of a car they were keeping an eye out for. If a Cop pulls you over for something other than speeding or a safety reason (bulb, etc) ... and doesn't give you a ticket ... you've been profiled. Profiling is still alive and well up there (a city in CT was so notorious it got state news coverage about it).

I lived in CT for years (twice) and have friends still up there ... family in both NY and NJ ... tooled around New England all the time ... no one gets pulled over for a license plate surround. In or out of state. BUT cops will pull you over for seemingly BS reasons ... it all depends on the Cop. (my mother was pulled over for Fuzzy Dice hanging from her rear-view ... the CT Trooper stated that it was because they obstruct the driver's view).


Now I'm living in FL (after years of visiting) ... what I can say more than any state I've lived where I owned a car (CT, MO, KY, NC, NV)... Florida Troopers and Sheriffs don't seem to bother people for their vehicles. FL is a very lax state regarding vehicle registration. Heck, when registering your car all they do is look at the odometer ... you don't even have to start it ... No emissions tests, No vehicle inspections ... Nothing ... just give them $ and go.


Regarding License Plate Covers ... I've found that most states that either Have OR Had traffic light camera; it's illegal to have covers ... regardless of selling them or not. Just because you can buy something in that state ... doesn't mean they are legal to use for street use, as they are thought to obscure the camera from taking a viable picture of your plate. Heck, Radar Detectors are a perfect example ... you can buy them, but not use them ... in about any state.


*** the reason why Northerners flock to FL in droves ... trading SNOW and COLD WEATHER for SUNSHINE and MILD WINTERS. It's the same in NC ... lots of Northerners, but the ones who want 4 seasons ... just milder.



:EDIT: I've been informed I'm wrong regarding the Radar Detectors ... going by old laws. Still point still stands ...

[max_330i]

Originally Posted by N52UNED

Regarding License Plate Covers ... I've found that most states that either Have OR Had traffic light camera; it's illegal to have covers ... regardless of selling them or not. Just because you can buy something in that state ... doesn't mean they are legal to use for street use, as they are thought to obscure the camera from taking a viable picture of your plate. Heck, Radar Detectors are a perfect example ... you can buy them, but not use them ... in about any state.

Your post is well written and mostly correct, however it is not illegal to own and operate a radar detector in most states. Virginia and Washington D.C. have laws prohibiting them but that's it. You may be referencing laser jammers, which are illegal in ten U.S. states including my own. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector#Legality

[flexinator]

There's not even a seatbelt law in NH. We should be leaving these "I don't make the law" states. There are way better options. Goodbye Massachusetts.

[CTinline-six]

They are definitely illegal.

It obstructs the view of your license plate from police, other drivers, speed cameras and red light cameras that rely on reflection. The tinted covers are an obvious way to try and make them harder to read. Try reading your plate at night from about 10 feet away. It is considered obstructing the view of the license plate. Just like putting something over it to cover it, turning it upside down, having it covered with mud/snow, or having a plate light out. Basically anything that makes it so people/cameras/government drones can't read it.

This makes police question if you are trying to avoid being recognized for some reason. The last thing you need driving a bimmer is to give the cops another reason to be suspicious, haha.

[N52UNED]

Originally Posted by max_330i

Your post is well written and mostly correct, however it is not illegal to own and operate a radar detector in most states. Virginia and Washington D.C. have laws prohibiting them but that's it. You may be referencing laser jammers, which are illegal in ten U.S. states including my own. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector#Legality

HHMMM ... No doubt. Thanks for the info.
Granted I am going by 20 yr old info ... glad to see things have changed. Time to do some shopping! (doubt my old PassPort can keep up with today's radar)

[NitroKing]

At least in Florida, it's illegal to have anything on the plate, frames, covers, etc.

More likely to be stopped for the cover because it affects the reflective ability of the plate and it hides the numbers too.

[John 070]

I laugh when people complain about taxes in MASS. My buddy has a mansion and his taxes are $53k in Brookline, MA. In Westchester, NY, that mansion would be maybe 1/5 the size and have the same taxes lol

[natedog7700]

License plate covers are illegal even if they are clear (in my state). They are meant for car shows and "off road" use.

I bought an autozone one as well, tinted it more so when its night time you can barley see it. Cops dont even notice and if i do get yanked, they always give me a warning. Dont ask why i have it so dark, i like to do illegal things.

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

Come on guys. Use some common sense. In most states it is required that you drive with a license plate in a visible location. Why would they allow ANY cover over the plate at all? That makes no sense.
In California, our plates have a special reflective paint that is applied to make it more visible, especially at night. How well do you think this reflectance will work through a faded scratched up plastic cover? And before you say that your plate cover is clean, why do you think police and traffic courts would want to get involved in any dispute over how well one can see through a license plate cover? Unless it matches your triple wing trunk spoiler and fart can, there is precious little justification for a plate cover anyway other than to obscure the plate from authorities.

And cops in the Silicon Valley county, adjacent to the county with Tesla headquarters and adjacent to the county with the Tesla factory, ticket Tesla drivers for having no front licence plate installed. The Tesla comes with no front plate mount, from the factory.

[PTinVT]

I rarely see plate covers in VT, they're illegal here as well and invite "police curiosity" like illegal tint. We have to have front plates but you can run a special generic extra-cost fundraiser plate over your front plate; they have special generic front plate programs occasionally but the current one has been extended indefinitely by a governor executive order.

Very surprisingly, they are considering doing away with front plates in VT. I'm very surprised by that, most states go the other way (adding them if they haven't had them).