Covering rear license plate with gear

ljr wrote:
I did that for 4 years of near full timing and something like 30k miles. Nobody ever questioned it.

I went 45 years with perfect hearing and then one day after 45 yrs, I lost half my hearing in one ear. Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesnt mean it wont ever happened. Nothing happens, until it happens.

copeland343 wrote:
You can only get a ticket for state inspection in the state you are tagged in. If you could get one in another state you will have to pass their inspection to get rid of the ticket. Some states front License plate with trailer some with two and some with only one on rear. Some states no plates on trailers. Some with no inspections and some with emissions inspections. Just do what is required in your state for the plates.

Correct, but wrong to a point... I don't think anyone would think they need to pass another states "inspection". Having a visible plate (whether its cover/unlit) or whatever is a ticket-able offense. How each state/municipality handles it, can be different. AS far as inspections goes, there are different types of inspections. For example, only parts of NC have inspections. Not the whole state. And then in the parts that do, there are actually 2 different inspections that are performed (at same time) with exception. There is an emissions inspection and then a safety inspection. Trucks that are 3/4 ton and higher do not get emission inspections. Trucks 1/2 ton and lower and passenger vehicles do. License plate light being part of the safety inspection. My son was given an old S10 with grounds effects. It came from out of state where there are no inspections done. The license plate didn't have a light. When he went to get it inspected, they failed him because of it. Had to install one and took it back and passed. Technically, whoever drove the truck at night, could of been pulled over (in most) states with the plate not illuminated. Whether they do or don't is another story.

Oldme wrote:
Many States require that not only the rear plate be visible, it must be
physically attached. Sitting in the rear window does not count as mounted.

Covering it will be an invitation to get pulled and inspected for equipment violations. Putting the plate in the rear window gives the impression of an improperly registered (plate does not match VIN) or stolen vehicle.

This form a retired LEO.
Do what you want and face what happens.

People do not want to hear what is right, from folks like you and I. After all we only put in well over a half century between us, enforcing the laws, NOT writing them. :)

Many States require that not only the rear plate be visible, it must be
physically attached. Sitting in the rear window does not count as mounted.

Covering it will be an invitation to get pulled and inspected for equipment violations. Putting the plate in the rear window gives the impression of an improperly registered (plate does not match VIN) or stolen vehicle.

This form a retired LEO.
Do what you want and face what happens.

The Texan wrote:

copeland343 wrote:
You can only get a ticket for state inspection in the state you are tagged in. If you could get one in another state you will have to pass their inspection to get rid of the ticket. Some states front License plate with trailer some with two and some with only one on rear. Some states no plates on trailers. Some with no inspections and some with emissions inspections. Just do what is required in your state for the plates.

Don't know where you got this total bunch of mis-information. You can and will be ticketed for equipment violations in ANY state. ALL states require a rear plate, VISIBLE & readable at all times from a distance of 100' or more. Cover it and you are asking for a citation from any LEO. I do know that there is one state that does not require a plate on a trailer under certain conditions.

There are several states that do not required plates on a trailer.

In Wisconsin plates are NOT required for a trailer under a certain length. I think it was around 20 ft or something like that.

My first brand new TT was under that length, and since DMV considered it a 'trailer' the DMV said I didn't need a plate. :E

I most certainly was NOT in the mood to hit the road pulling my brand new RV with a slide and no plate on it and have every tom dick and stupid harry cop that doesn't know my states rules pulling me over for no plates.

I 'requested' DVM to allow me to buy a plate for it.

Took an hour and half at the DMV for them to get over that fact my trailer didn't need one, I wanted one, and for them to finally provide me with one. :R

A hitch-mounted gear rack is an invitation for loss, theft, water damage, and simply worry...besides the $60 cost for a California fixit ticket. This is my solution, with plate bracket, light, brake and turn signal lighting:

If there is no visible plate, you CAN get a citation. It doesn't mean you will, but you can. If the LEO caught his girlfriend in bed with his best friend the night before and is in a bad mood, he CAN cite you.

Folks who say I did it and didn't get stopped remind me of the ones who were speeding and didn't get stopped. Lucky.

Covered bikes obscure the license plate on the fiver. I use this bracket to mount the license plate on ladder. No light, but we rarely travel at night anyway.

My truck camper is designed to be used on either a long-bed truck, or a short-bed truck with the tailgate dropped. Of course with the tailgate dropped, especially with the new curved-top gate, you can't see the plate. We just drove 6400 miles with my short-bed truck with no problems. I pondered moving it to the camper, but since it's not registered to the camper, but to the truck, I decided to leave it alone

copeland343 wrote:
You can only get a ticket for state inspection in the state you are tagged in. If you could get one in another state you will have to pass their inspection to get rid of the ticket. Some states front License plate with trailer some with two and some with only one on rear. Some states no plates on trailers. Some with no inspections and some with emissions inspections. Just do what is required in your state for the plates.

Don't know where you got this total bunch of mis-information. You can and will be ticketed for equipment violations in ANY state. ALL states require a rear plate, VISIBLE & readable at all times from a distance of 100' or more. Cover it and you are asking for a citation from any LEO. I do know that there is one state that does not require a plate on a trailer under certain conditions.