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Crime Stories
Yesterday was apparently a slow day in Estes Park, CO on the crime front.

We are visiting friends here for a few days and decided to drive to a trail for a hike. As we were driving a police SUV pulled me over and I couldn't wait to find out why. The officer informed me that first my license plate was obstructed by our hitch mounted bike rack and mountain bikes and second I had not turned on my left turn signal as I sat in the left turn only lane at a red light. Guilty as charged officer.

It appeared to me that this was a training situation for the officer and her partner confirmed that after checking my license, insurance, registration and running me through the database. Luckily for the officer, there was no strip search. We didn't get a ticket either.

The point to this story is I have never heard of anyone being pulled or cited for having a hitch mounted rack and wondered if anyone else has? We have carried bikes on such racks for decades through almost every state in the country and never had an issue. This is just your typical rack with typical bikes, and it does obstruct the plate, however, it would seem that if this was a problem I would have heard about it before now.

Jim
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #1 –
We have never had a problem, but a couple of years ago my sis-in-law and her hubby were eastbound on I-10 in AZ and were pulled over for having their license plate improperly mounted!  They were in their 35 foot Jayco pulling a Subaru toad with standard bike rack on back of the toad.  He had covered the bikes, and that obscured the toad brake lights, so he mounted two magnetic portable brake lights on the roof of the Subaru. He left the toad license plate in place. Being a diligent fellow, Bob had re-mounted the OK license plate from the rear bumper of the Jayco to about 8 feet from the ground on the ladder.  His thinking being that the toad obscured the Jayco license plate, so he raised it up above the roofline of the toad so that all the world could see it. Nope! Pulled over by AZ State Trooper and advised to properly mount the moho plate, and to enable the toad license plate to be visible even with the bikes covered.  He wasn't cited. Go figure. . .
2017 RB
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #2 –
The license plate, including the state in which it was issued, must be clearly visible so a police officer can check the vehicle as being stolen and ID the proper owner during a traffic stop. If the vehicle you are driving has been reported as stolen, the officer will act accordingly.

Frequently you will see a license plate frame that obscures the name of the state the tag is issued in. Also illegal because, once again, the officer cannot call in the tag number.

You got lucky with no ticket.

Ed
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Jim & Gayle  - 
As we were driving a police SUV pulled me over and I couldn't wait to find out why. The officer informed me that first my license plate was obstructed by our hitch mounted bike rack and mountain bikes

I assume you were not in your LD, as I find it hard to imagine how bikes or a rack could obstruct the LD plate location. Anyway, such obstruction is illegal, since the purpose of the plate is so your vehicle can be identified - by police, traffic cams, or anyone who has an issue with your road conduct. Otherwise, why bother with them? If your vehicle were stolen, matching the plate and vehicle description MIGHT get it back to you.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Steve  - 
I assume you were not in your LD, as I find it hard to imagine how bikes or a rack could obstruct the LD plate location. Anyway, such obstruction is illegal, since the purpose of the plate is so your vehicle can be identified - by police, traffic cams, or anyone who has an issue with your road conduct. Otherwise, why bother with them? If your vehicle were stolen, matching the plate and vehicle description MIGHT get it back to you.

Steve



That is also my understanding of the purpose of license plates, Steve--which makes me wonder why I keep seeing all the specialty plates (e.g., Confederate flag/John Deere/Mizzou Tigers/etc., not state-issued *vanity* plates) where a state issued plate should be.  Missouri issues/requires both front & rear plates, but I see lots of folks flaunting that...and these are not vehicles that just roam around the boonies of north Missouri, 'cause I see them when I go to metro Kansas City, too.  It is a puzzlement.

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #5 –
We were driving our Subaru which is where the rack stays. I never really thought about this issue because I have never heard of anyone being stopped for it.  I don't doubt that there is some regulation about obstructing license plates but I'm pretty confident that it is primarily used when there is some suspicious activity and they need a reason to pull you over. In our case, they needed a training moment.

If they wanted to write tickets for that they could write tens of thousands. You should see the cars in Estes Park that have something blocking their plate, bike racks, trays with luggage, etc.

All that said I will investigate what I can do to mount it where it can be seen. The problem is that it has to work when the rack is tilted up and when it is down with the bikes on.

In Ray's scenario, I bet the primary issue there was that the bikes were covered.

Jim

Re: Crime Stories
Reply #6 –
From 1985 to 2012 I drove 2 different Honda's with only rear plates on car. I didn't like how they hung down off front bumper. I carried the front plate in glove box. In the past I've had a heavy foot and have been stopped for my affliction 😁. Not once did any officer 👮 make a comment on missing plate. In 2010 a parent (Hwy Patrol Officer) of a student of mine asked where my front plate was. After telling him he just said Ok as if it was no big deal. After purchasing a new Honda in 2012 both plates ride on outside of car 🚙.
Daughter of the first Lazy Bones
Hitting the road on my own and with a friend 🚐 while reporting back to the Lazy Bones at home 🛋

2 Lazy Bones - Home
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #7 –
In California, it is illegal to block a license plate and you could be cited:

(c) A casing, shield, frame, border, product, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote emission sensing device, as specified in Sections 44081 and 44081.6 of the Health and Safety Code, shall not be installed on, or affixed to, a vehicle.

California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 5201 | FindLaw
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #8 –
I'm  guessing  here but .....  here in Portland the Police have a license plate reading camera in most all the police cars.  As they, the police, ride around they can 'read' and 'check' all cars parked and those that are moving in either direction.      I'm thinking the plates location will become more and more important as this tech becomes more and more widespread.
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #9 –
I was stopped in Parker, AZ in my Subaru for a obstructed license plate from my Thule bike mount with bike. I could see the plate fine, but... Got off with a warning.
2003 23.5' Front Dinette
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #10 –
Quote from: Bob Lawhon  - 
I was stopped in Parker, AZ in my Subaru for a obstructed license plate from my Thule bike mount with bike. I could see the plate fine, but... Got off with a warning.

Bob, did you come up with a different mounting solution for the plate or just keep on keeping on?

Jim
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #12 –
I've traveled with obscured plates from time to time, but was never stopped.  I'm not too interested in removing the plate from the car, and installing it on a temporary hitch carrier or bike rack, and running electric for lighting, etc.  It would probably be easier to get a duplicate plate (available online from custom vanity plate 'replica' producers) and just have them make you one with your normal plate number.  Put a little sticker on it that says "For informational purposes only.  See vehicle for regulation plate."  That'll leave them scratching their head for awhile... if they even take notice at all.  From a registration sticker standpoint, it serves the exact same purpose as the regulation plate on the front of the car.  Clear plate number, but no reg. sticker at all on the front. (In Ohio, as an example...)

If I had a full-time accessory, like a handicap scooter lift with a fold-up platform that always obscured the plate, then I'd move it for the duration.

Chip
2000 Front Lounge
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #13 –
For what it is worth, nationwide motor vehicle regulations require that the license plate be mounted in the spot designed for it by the manufacturer.  Mounting your plate on a carrier is a bigger violation than a plate that is properly mounted but partially obscured.  I checked with local police in Jackson, WY, after Jim's post here to ask about the issue.  My bike definitely obscures the plate.  The watch commander took a look and told me that in Jackson, I might get stopped, but if my paperwork matched the plate and vehicle, I would almost certainly not get a ticket.  He confirmed that if I were to move the plate to the carrier, I would get a ticket.

Different agencies may have different priorities.  That is just what I was told here.

Ken F in WY
'08 MB
 
Re: Crime Stories
Reply #14 –
Quote from: Kenneth Fears  - 
For what it is worth, nationwide motor vehicle regulations require that the license plate be mounted in the spot designed for it by the manufacturer.  Mounting your plate on a carrier is a bigger violation than a plate that is properly mounted but partially obscured.  I checked with local police in Jackson, WY, after Jim's post here to ask about the issue.  My bike definitely obscures the plate.  The watch commander took a look and told me that in Jackson, I might get stopped, but if my paperwork matched the plate and vehicle, I would almost certainly not get a ticket.  He confirmed that if I were to move the plate to the carrier, I would get a ticket.

Different agencies may have different priorities.  That is just what I was told here.

Ken F in WY


Timely information Ken, thanks. I am contemplating getting a different bike which is going to require a different rack. I plan on contacting the company I think I mentioned earlier which offers that plate adapter but now I think I will pass on the adapter.

Jim