I Was Pulled Over Because the Officer “Could Not See the Month and Year On My License Plate”

When an officer stops you, it can be a scary experience. It can also be particularly troubling when you find yourself stopped for something that seems bogus, like the officer claiming he or she could not see the date on your license plate. Is such a thing required? Can you be stopped if the officer cannot see this information?
State laws regarding license plates vary from one to another. Just as each state has its own license plates, each has its own laws regarding the display of the license plate. As a general rule, there are three main things that every state’s laws have in common:

• The plate should be current, valid, and clearly visible wherever it is displayed;
• The plate should be mounted to the car in the proper location (as required by that state’s laws) and in a manner that is free of obstruction; and
• All of the numbers and letters should be clearly visible, as well as any other identifying markers

Put another way, your plate should be valid, visible, and displayed in accordance with the law. You should also ensure that your plates are cleaned regularly so that they remain free of mud, dirt, debris, or other visual obstructions. Some states have also banned any sort of cover over the plate (such as plastic covers, tinted films, etc.) as they can cause a glare or reflection (either accidentally or intentionally) that may prevent them from being easily visible, particularly to automated cameras.

Of course, if personalization is your interest, there are still many options for unique license plate designs provided by state departments of motor vehicles. These usually come with a premium fee in addition to the regular tag and title fees. However, drivers cannot make changes to the officially issued license plates to further customize them. Thus, a driver cannot file a plate down, cut its corners, paint the plate, or put any required stickers (such as renewal date stickers) in the wrong locations.

Also, different states require the plates to be displayed in different locations. 31 states have laws requiring license plates on both the front and back of the vehicle, while the remaining 19 only require them in the rear. Moreover, many states have laws specifying the location where the plate can be displayed. In many instances, permanent plates cannot be displayed in windows (although temporary plates often can be), and the law may prescribe that the plate must be in certain locations, such as the bumper or back of a spare tire shroud.

Some states also have laws regarding stickers that must be affixed to the plate to demonstrate the month and/or year by which the plate must be renewed. In states where these stickers are required, the law generally prescribes a location where the stickers must be affixed to the plate. Some states go a step further, prohibiting anyone from covering these stickers with frames, covers, or other obstructions that could prevent one from determining the validity of the plate from a simple visual inspection.

Violating one of these laws can be enough to trigger a traffic stop. Of course, if other illegal activity is discovered as a result of the stop, that could be a serious problem. On the other hand, if the plate violation is the only issue, it could still result in a traffic ticket. These tickets are usually referred to as “fix-it” tickets, in which the driver is given the opportunity to prove that the condition has been corrected without any fees (or a greatly reduced fee) or face a fine and/or other penalties.

In other states, if the violation is not timely repaired and a fine is assessed, the penalty is usually in the $100-$200 range. Continuing violations could result in more serious consequences, including higher fines or even the suspension of a driver’s license.

If you have a dispute over the license plate laws in your state, you should strongly consider contacting an attorney. Properly displaying license plates, including any relevant date stickers, is important for maintaining the safety of officers and other drivers and pedestrians on the street. Thus, license plate violations can be serious enough to warrant speaking with an attorney to make sure you do not lose your license or face hefty fines. You can find a lawyer by using the HG.org attorney search feature and searching by your location and the area of legal expertise you require. If you have a question regarding the proper placement of your license plates, stickers on them, or whether you can use frames or covers, you can contact either a lawyer or your state’s department of motor vehicle.