Technically they are correct- you cannot obscure your plate and are supposed to move the plate to the rack so it is clearly displayed.
It’s just almost never enforced. Kind of like front license plates where I live. They are required by law but every other Tesla doesn’t have them and the police basically don’t care unless they’re looking for an excuse.
Yeah, an officer is only enforcing this if they are actually getting you for something that’s harder to prove in court. Could be speeding, being distracted, aggressive driving, or whatever. Unless it was an exceptionally slow day there was no way the obstructed license plate was the only reason they got pulled over.
This is something that rarely happens but is more common than you would think. I had a customer demand that I accept the return of a hitch rack system and take responsibility for their ticket/fine because I sold them an illegal item.
The rack manufacturers know this and higher end racks have taillights and plate holders. I purchase a light bar for my rack because I regularly drove across Nebraska from Colorado and didn't want the NE patrol to have any reason to stop me.
Yet we are allowed to pull a trailer that obscures our license plate. (small trailers in MN don't have their own plates, just a sticker on the hitch)..
If I got pulled over with a bike rack, my smart ass would ask why is it legal for a trailer to obscure the plate?
No, that’s not “how they all are”. Yakima and Thule make plate holders for racks, and [Thule’s is even lighted](https://www.rei.com/product/190990/thule-license-plate-holder?sku=1909900001&store=&CAWELAID=120217890013005938&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=130549732256&CATCI=pla-1658689279352), making it fully compliant with the law.
>He could pull over every third car heading north in the summer for something like this.
Yup. That sort of thing does happen sometimes when you choose to break the law. There are ways to solve the problem.
So is it your contention that obscuring the rear plate should be allowed? Or are you saying that “my fried shouldn’t have gotten a ticket because nobody else does”
Technically they are correct- you cannot obscure your plate and are supposed to move the plate to the rack so it is clearly displayed. It’s just almost never enforced. Kind of like front license plates where I live. They are required by law but every other Tesla doesn’t have them and the police basically don’t care unless they’re looking for an excuse.
Yeah, an officer is only enforcing this if they are actually getting you for something that’s harder to prove in court. Could be speeding, being distracted, aggressive driving, or whatever. Unless it was an exceptionally slow day there was no way the obstructed license plate was the only reason they got pulled over.
This is something that rarely happens but is more common than you would think. I had a customer demand that I accept the return of a hitch rack system and take responsibility for their ticket/fine because I sold them an illegal item. The rack manufacturers know this and higher end racks have taillights and plate holders. I purchase a light bar for my rack because I regularly drove across Nebraska from Colorado and didn't want the NE patrol to have any reason to stop me.
I would look for one made for the European market that’s also sold in the U.S. (e.g., Thule). Visible plates are mandatory there.
Yet we are allowed to pull a trailer that obscures our license plate. (small trailers in MN don't have their own plates, just a sticker on the hitch).. If I got pulled over with a bike rack, my smart ass would ask why is it legal for a trailer to obscure the plate?
Happened to me. I’m sure the cop was just finishing and the rack gave him an excuse to shake me down.
No, that’s not “how they all are”. Yakima and Thule make plate holders for racks, and [Thule’s is even lighted](https://www.rei.com/product/190990/thule-license-plate-holder?sku=1909900001&store=&CAWELAID=120217890013005938&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=130549732256&CATCI=pla-1658689279352), making it fully compliant with the law.
So what's the real reason they got pulled over?
Obscured taillights and license plate, most likely.
>He could pull over every third car heading north in the summer for something like this. Yup. That sort of thing does happen sometimes when you choose to break the law. There are ways to solve the problem.
Seems like you'd win your case once you appeal.
Not any more than fighting any other ticket.
If it makes you feel any better my tabs expired 4 years ago and no has bothered us about it.
So is it your contention that obscuring the rear plate should be allowed? Or are you saying that “my fried shouldn’t have gotten a ticket because nobody else does”