Having a license plate is a requirement to operate a vehicle on the road. However, different states have different laws regarding car plates. It’s a fairly common practice for people to buy license plate covers, but many wonder if they are legal and if they can be pulled over for having them. After all, drivers can do many things to their vehicles, but this doesn’t make them legal.
Are license plate covers legal?
Many people around the country decide to add a cover to their license plate. However, this doesn’t mean they are always legal. In most states, having a cover, also called a shield, is illegal if they obstruct the car plates themselves. This is because law enforcement uses the plates to find valuable information about the vehicles on the road to ensure there’s nothing illegal going on.
License plate covers can also be illegal even if they don’t obstruct important information such as the plate number and expiration date. Some states make these shields illegal despite how they appear. Again, this is to make it easier for law enforcement. According to Buy Radar Detectors, each state has specific laws regarding covers, with many making tinted options illegal. However, others, such as Florida, make them all against the law.
It’s also important to note that you can buy license plate covers in some states where they are illegal. However, many companies that sell them include a disclaimer telling customers to check their local laws. Of course, it’s not just covers. Some states also make frames, including the ones from dealerships, illegal. This is why doing the proper research before traveling to other states is important, as you could be pulled over for these offenses.
Punishment for illegal covers
As mentioned, you could be pulled over for having an illegal license plate cover. Naturally, the severity of punishment will depend on the state you’re in. Typically, this offense only results in a fine. However, the fine can be quite costly in some states as it usually ranges from $50 to $200. This fine is much more expensive in Washington, DC, as it could balloon to $500 for the offense of having an obstructed license plate.
It’s also important to note that using an illegal license plate cover could result in other punishments. For example, if you get pulled over and the police discover other issues, such as expired tags, a suspended license, or any other road safety issues, punishment would be more severe.
Having a license plate cover is an easy way to personalize your vehicle and stand out from everyone else. However, it can easily get you into trouble if you don’t do the proper research. In a nutshell, if you can legally have a cover, it’s necessary to ensure that all the information on your car plates is easy to read, even from a distance.
