Covering rear license plate with gear

Check with your state and states you will be traveling through. It many (if not most or all states) your license plate is supposed to illuminated. Here in NC, you will not pass a state safety inspection if it isn't. I know the California Code Book has a code for it as well. Will you get a ticket? More than likely no, at most, it will be a "fix-it" ticket. But it could cause you to be pulled over. The same goes as having the license plate obstructed, which you seem to be concerned about.