Rear License Plate and Truck Camper?
I am buying a 8 1/2 ft truck camper that will be installed on a 3/4 ton 6 1/2 ft bed. The camper will then extend over the rear of the truck. The camper bottom does not hang below the tailgate. But u...
Forum Discussion
Well, I am a retired Trooper and I did work traffic, as I did other law enforcement duties. When one of my supervisors did his monthly ride check, he did mark and track the number of plate violations I passed and didn’t pull over. Yeah, he was a jerk. So yes, Police do stop people with obstructed plates. It is not a matter of not being stopped, it is really a matter of when. The law is on the book in all states, so it is enforceable. All officers make choices of when and how they enforce the law.
For me, it was a great way to stop and check for;
1. Stolen vehicles
2. Felony and Misdemeanor Warrants
3. Drunk and Impaired drivers.
4. Unlicensed and Uninsured Drivers.
I scored often with good collars for something simple as; no visible plate and or no front plate. Officers don’t always pull over people who speed or run stop signs. In fact, I never was issued a Radar Unit for my assigned patrol car my entire career. But one fact is true, bad people drive motor vehicles. RVs are known as a favorite vehicle to transport drugs. Anyone remember the television show; "Breaking Bad?"
The issue really is, most Truck Campers are not operated in the state that they are licensed in. So be aware that Umbrella of your understanding may be pierced in other states. Let me share a story on this very point.
Years ago I was following a Truck with a topper on it, out of a Canyon onto the streets of an adjacent city. The Truck did not have any registration/plates visible. This type of vehicle was often used to transport drugs. I initiated a stop in a Home Rule town, for no visible plates.
The Truck continued and showed no efforts to pull over, even after passing numerous open curbs, pull outs and parking lots. After 10 to 12 city blocks, I tapped my siren. Still no response to pull over from Truck and driver. I radioed dispatch and the local police were sent to meet me. Seeing the other patrol cars I turned my siren on and the Truck and Driver continued on. The local police pulled alongside the truck and the driver then pulled into a mall parking lot. Sometimes drivers are mistaken and think that a State Trooper can’t pull someone over in a town or when not on a state highway.
When contacting the driver he was very upset and defended his actions of not pulling over, as he knew he did anything wrong. As for the plate, he pointed to a California Registration paper 6”X6” taped to the middle of the front windshield. “That is my registration! You have no business pulling me over for not having a plate.” When I looked it was in fact valid. But in Colorado, temporary registration is displayed on the rear of the vehicle. My response was how was I suppose to know the registration was on the front window. The driver responded; “But it was registered in California and that is how Californians display their new temporary registration.”
The person was sent on their way. But the driver was not satisfied and filed a written complaint for me illegally stopping him. The ensuing investigation and letter sent to the driver was; “Regardless what your original state of registration, you must display valid registration on the rear of your vehicle, visible 200 feet to the rear while operating a motor vehicle in Colorado.”
Some states have stickers on the front windshield for registration for the current year and the plate on the rear. Or in the case of the California driver, temporary registration on the front windshield. Just be aware what might be valid in your state, your state of mind or because you have never been pulled over, people like me are still ready to stop you and just take a few moments to check you and others to determine if they have insurance, valid driver’s license, warrants, current registration or degree of impairment. As was stated previously by Buzzcut, you might try not to give an officer a reason to pull you over.
“You’ve got to ask yourself a question; “Do I feel Lucky?”
Well, do ya, Punk?” :B
Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry ~ 1971
Happy motoring!
b
For me, it was a great way to stop and check for;
1. Stolen vehicles
2. Felony and Misdemeanor Warrants
3. Drunk and Impaired drivers.
4. Unlicensed and Uninsured Drivers.
I scored often with good collars for something simple as; no visible plate and or no front plate. Officers don’t always pull over people who speed or run stop signs. In fact, I never was issued a Radar Unit for my assigned patrol car my entire career. But one fact is true, bad people drive motor vehicles. RVs are known as a favorite vehicle to transport drugs. Anyone remember the television show; "Breaking Bad?"
The issue really is, most Truck Campers are not operated in the state that they are licensed in. So be aware that Umbrella of your understanding may be pierced in other states. Let me share a story on this very point.
Years ago I was following a Truck with a topper on it, out of a Canyon onto the streets of an adjacent city. The Truck did not have any registration/plates visible. This type of vehicle was often used to transport drugs. I initiated a stop in a Home Rule town, for no visible plates.
The Truck continued and showed no efforts to pull over, even after passing numerous open curbs, pull outs and parking lots. After 10 to 12 city blocks, I tapped my siren. Still no response to pull over from Truck and driver. I radioed dispatch and the local police were sent to meet me. Seeing the other patrol cars I turned my siren on and the Truck and Driver continued on. The local police pulled alongside the truck and the driver then pulled into a mall parking lot. Sometimes drivers are mistaken and think that a State Trooper can’t pull someone over in a town or when not on a state highway.
When contacting the driver he was very upset and defended his actions of not pulling over, as he knew he did anything wrong. As for the plate, he pointed to a California Registration paper 6”X6” taped to the middle of the front windshield. “That is my registration! You have no business pulling me over for not having a plate.” When I looked it was in fact valid. But in Colorado, temporary registration is displayed on the rear of the vehicle. My response was how was I suppose to know the registration was on the front window. The driver responded; “But it was registered in California and that is how Californians display their new temporary registration.”
The person was sent on their way. But the driver was not satisfied and filed a written complaint for me illegally stopping him. The ensuing investigation and letter sent to the driver was; “Regardless what your original state of registration, you must display valid registration on the rear of your vehicle, visible 200 feet to the rear while operating a motor vehicle in Colorado.”
Some states have stickers on the front windshield for registration for the current year and the plate on the rear. Or in the case of the California driver, temporary registration on the front windshield. Just be aware what might be valid in your state, your state of mind or because you have never been pulled over, people like me are still ready to stop you and just take a few moments to check you and others to determine if they have insurance, valid driver’s license, warrants, current registration or degree of impairment. As was stated previously by Buzzcut, you might try not to give an officer a reason to pull you over.
“You’ve got to ask yourself a question; “Do I feel Lucky?”
Well, do ya, Punk?” :B
Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry ~ 1971
Happy motoring!
b
