Rear License Plate and Truck Camper?

[tidalwave]

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 unfortunately, the overhang will obscure the truck's rear license plate, if you get too close to the rear.
Do I have to relocate the license plate onto the rear of the camper?
This would mean running additional wiring from the camper rear running lights to an add-on license plate bracket.
My state demands that a rear license plate must be illuminated.

[bka0721]

Many people drive with their plates obstructed. Do it or don’t, it makes no difference to me. What I do know is that I would have pulled you over for it. In fact my supervisor would have noted I was not doing my job, if I didn’t.

Oh, yeah. I thought I would grab this shot a couple of weeks back that shows it doesn’t matter who you are, it is done.

Now where did you guys leave that dead horse so I can take whack at it, again, too?


b

[Vinsil]

You addressed Steve with your statement and just simply pointing out the fact he lives in Oregon...so your common sense don't apply to every situation. The discussion was also addressing how other states view the issue, not just non-plated TC states.

[stevenal]

http://publicdocs.courts.mi.gov:81/OPINIONS/FINAL/SCT/20160329_S150371_71_01_Dunbar-OP.pdf

See footnote 8 on page 8. They actually understood some of the wider implications of the ruling and pointedly avoided addressing them. O'Connell had it right in my opinion, but was overturned.

[Bumpyroad]

Vinsil wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

stevenal wrote:
So it would likewise be illegal to tow any kind of trailer in MI. Funny, I don't remember any lack of trailers on MI highways. Did your younger () stop all vehicles towing trailers?

Also note that the MI code requires the plate to be fastened to the vehicle and not the cargo. Those who advocate moving the plate to the camper would be in violation there. Looks like TCs are illegal in MI as well, since there in no legal solution to the problem.

You would also think that MI companies like Ford and GM would provide step bumpers with ball mounting positions that didn't obscure plates in the factory position, at least when not towing.

or one could just use common sense and mount the plate on the rear of the TC in a lit frame and avoid the what ifs. has anybody here been hassled for having the plate in that location?
bumpy

Then what do we do with our TC plate that Oregon requires? Common sense tells me that two different plates mounted on a TC would get you in johhny laws eyes faster than anything....

I thought we were discussing where the truck has a plate in a non-visible location but the TC is not plated. if both were plated, common sense tells me that I should leave the plates on their respective vehicles.
bumpy

[Vinsil]

Bumpyroad wrote:

stevenal wrote:
So it would likewise be illegal to tow any kind of trailer in MI. Funny, I don't remember any lack of trailers on MI highways. Did your younger () stop all vehicles towing trailers?

Also note that the MI code requires the plate to be fastened to the vehicle and not the cargo. Those who advocate moving the plate to the camper would be in violation there. Looks like TCs are illegal in MI as well, since there in no legal solution to the problem.

You would also think that MI companies like Ford and GM would provide step bumpers with ball mounting positions that didn't obscure plates in the factory position, at least when not towing.

or one could just use common sense and mount the plate on the rear of the TC in a lit frame and avoid the what ifs. has anybody here been hassled for having the plate in that location?
bumpy

Then what do we do with our TC plate that Oregon requires? Common sense tells me that two different plates mounted on a TC would get you in johhny laws eyes faster than anything....

[Bumpyroad]

stevenal wrote:
So it would likewise be illegal to tow any kind of trailer in MI. Funny, I don't remember any lack of trailers on MI highways. Did your younger () stop all vehicles towing trailers?

Also note that the MI code requires the plate to be fastened to the vehicle and not the cargo. Those who advocate moving the plate to the camper would be in violation there. Looks like TCs are illegal in MI as well, since there in no legal solution to the problem.

You would also think that MI companies like Ford and GM would provide step bumpers with ball mounting positions that didn't obscure plates in the factory position, at least when not towing.

or one could just use common sense and mount the plate on the rear of the TC in a lit frame and avoid the what ifs. has anybody here been hassled for having the plate in that location?
bumpy

[stevenal]

So it would likewise be illegal to tow any kind of trailer in MI. Funny, I don't remember any lack of trailers on MI highways. Did your younger () stop all vehicles towing trailers?

Also note that the MI code requires the plate to be fastened to the vehicle and not the cargo. Those who advocate moving the plate to the camper would be in violation there. Looks like TCs are illegal in MI as well, since there in no legal solution to the problem.

You would also think that MI companies like Ford and GM would provide step bumpers with ball mounting positions that didn't obscure plates in the factory position, at least when not towing.

[travelnutz]

stevenal,

Read the Michigan Vehicle Code.

A valid registered license plate shall be securely mounted with screws to the rear portion of any licensed registered motor vehicle when operated on all and any street, road, or any public property within the State Of Michigan. The license plate must have a full unobstructed view from the area to the rear of the license plate's mounted location and must be illuminated and clearly readable after dark when vehicle is driven. It is unlawful to encase or cover any info on the license plate as it shall remain in the open and be clearly visible. A citation shall be issued if in violation of these requirements.

Excerpt taken from the Michigan Vehicle Code!

The "druggies" with felony weapons in the vehicle were claiming the trailer hitch behind obstructing the license plate view did not give the police the right to even pull their vehicle over and therefore, their case must be dropped as it was an illegal action. The State Supreme Court ruled the stop was in accordance with the written state vehicle code and re-enforced the code law as written. My younger was a sheriff for many years and he says they will and would stop any obstructed license plate, improperly mounted, not illuminated after dark, or other vehicle code violations they noticed while patrolling. Maybe they don't in Oregon but they sure do here in Michigan!

[Bumpyroad]

bookmaker wrote:


While I was doing research for tags here in Florida I found that the tag cannot be obstructed even when parked on the side of the road. So all you Florida people who have a car cover on your vehicle while it is parked in front of your house, but on road right of way, you are violating the law.

Dale

I can sorta almost understand that. it would be the easiest way to hide a stolen car or unregistered/illegally registered vehicle in plain sight.

bumpy

[bookmaker]

The whole visible plate issue is sort of a farce. They aren't visible from the rear when pulling any significant sized trailer. (I sure don't want an officer trying to write down my tag while rolling along right next to me where he CAN see the tag.) Yes the trailer is supposed to have a tag (in most states), but it may belong to someone else.

While I was doing research for tags here in Florida I found that the tag cannot be obstructed even when parked on the side of the road. So all you Florida people who have a car cover on your vehicle while it is parked in front of your house, but on road right of way, you are violating the law.

Dale

[Kayteg1]

stevenal wrote:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/03/30/high-court-oks-traffic-stops-obscure...

Seems the real problem was drugs and weapons. No mention of a citation for the obscured plate, just whether or not the stop was legal. The trailer ball obscured part of the plate, which is normal for anyone attaching a ball to a bumper.

That case remind me my last visit in traffic court (long time ago).
I was amazed that over 50% of cases was possession of marijuana, when the original stop was over not turning blinker on, or rolling stop.
Would those marijuana smokers had some brain, they would pay attention to observing traffic law while being in possession.
Coming back to plate on TC - I am taking time to drink my coffee and than will go move the plate from truck to TC.

[Bedlam]

I was pulled over for a an obscured license plate because I had a ball hitch installed in the OEM step bumper. At this point my truck was 14 years old and had the same ball and bumper on it since new. It was obviously just a reason to pull me over to verify license, registration and insurance, but I did question the local LEO how many people he knew that removed the ball every time they unhitched their trailer and whether he thought it was a reasonable request. I told him I have no problem showing him valid documentation, but I don't want to have worry about being ticketed for something like this.

[stevenal]

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/03/30/high-court-oks-traffic-stops-obscure...

Seems the real problem was drugs and weapons. No mention of a citation for the obscured plate, just whether or not the stop was legal. The trailer ball obscured part of the plate, which is normal for anyone attaching a ball to a bumper.

[travelnutz]

In our newspaper today Thursday 3-31 copied and pasted:



courts

Michigan's high court OKs traffic stops for obscured plates

LANSING — The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that police can pull over motorists whose license plates are obstructed by an object such as a bike rack or trailer hitch or the license plate not readable.