Mokos23

As I've been driving around Chicagoland and on the expressways, I hardly see anyone put either clear, smoked, blue, or bronze license plate covers anymore.

I still have my clear license plate cover on my car with my Acura license plate frame on top of it. So, why is it illegal now in IL? I like it the way it looks because it prevents theft of the registration sticker, keeps the plate from getting abused, and makes the overall appearance of the car better. What do you guys think?

Beelzebub

it is illegal in most states as it can obscure the view of the license plate from an angle.

Not for photo blocking as the mythbusters busted that myth.

TzarChasm

They probably should be illegal. They are usually ok brand new, but they quickly become fogged up with scratches etc. They certainly do obscure the plates.

sonnyg80

mines been fine since the day i got it - lightly smoked, i'll keep it til a copper says otherwise

WdnUlik2no

yeah, I think they are illegal here in GA too. I remember I had a green one on my GT Mustang about 5 years ago and I while I was stuck in traffic in the mall parking lot, a cop walked up to my car and joked that me he was going to give me a ticket. I asked him why and he told me that having covers over the license plate is illegal. He was cool though, he told me to just take it off when I got home. I had no idea they were illegal until that night.

joerockt

They've always been illegal here in CA.

chill_dog

They're illegal here, even clear. However, you don't get in trouble for them. I got pulled for speeding, and the cop couldn't have cared less about my cover (it is clear, but still illegal).

I don't see the problem with clear ones, though. Considering how ratty my old plate looked after thirteen years of exposure, when the state sent me my new one under their current replacement program, I got the cover for it. They should appreciate me trying to protect it and keep it legible.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

As far as I knew they were always illegal (even clear). I thought this was the same in pretty much every state.

That said, I had a clear in NY and left it on my car when we moved to NC... got pulled over in each state and neither officer said anything. Actually, one time in NY he did, and I just said I'm anal about keeping my car clean, and that includes the plates. He chuckled and I did not get in any trouble for it.

That said, it's still illegal and if he wanted to ticket me, he could have.

stright-(paint)balling

I still see them occassionally. I don't think their illegal. i don't know.

JaredGMS

I swear to GOD, if there was ever a poster child for the creation of soylent green.....

Will Y.

I haven't looked it up in the CA vehicle code, but thought that covers were illegal only if they obscured the license plate.

The cheap clear cover on the TL is degrading and "fogging" a little; I'll need to change it soon. The smoked license cover on our Odyssey probably is illegal, but it seems to be good quality plastic that has not degraded in 4+ years.

JaredGMS

CA Veh Code - 5201(e)(2) and (f) -
Essentially, it's allowed as long as it doesn't obstruct ANY of the vehicle information.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

In FL it's illegal. I've gotten 2 tickets for it. Even if it's clear & visable the law statue states no covering of any type shall cover any portion of the plate.

However as with all laws it's up to the cop if they enforce it.

Will Y.

for clear license plate covers in California; YMMV with tinted covers and in other states.

Mokos23

Well, I think I'm just going to get a new clear plate cover then. I was thinking of a smoke one, but don't want to risk it.

Personally I think it looks better with a cover and a frame around it instead of just a plain old state license plate. Adds some personality to the car.

cltypeSLOW

ya, same way in texas. you also are not even supposed to have frames of any kind around your plate. i dont really understand that cause the dealerships stick their frames on the car as soon as you buy them.

F23A4

I received a ticket for the slightly smoked plate cover on my 99 Accord while driving through Old Bridge Twp, NJ. Along with illegality of air fresheners that hang from rear view mirrors, the plate cover offense is just another way in which pols and police fleece the driving public.

tsxGoldenBear

I think you misread it:

(2) The installation of a license plate security cover is not a violation of this subdivision if the device does not obstruct or impair the recognition of the license plate information, including, but not limited to, the issuing state, license plate number, and registration tabs, and the cover is limited to the area directly over the top of the registration tabs. No portion of a license plate security cover shall rest over the license plate number.

i think they mean security covers (ie frames) that go around the plate to prevent it from being stolen. If you notice the bold part it has to be above the registration stickers and it cannot cover the numbers.

shooter

I got pulled over here before and let go with a warning to take my smoke cover off. It's still on and it has been about half a year now ... (fingers crossed ... )

JaredGMS

Here's how I read it -
Section(e)(2) - only pertains to security covers.
Section (f) pertains to shields, and it states that "


No casing, shield, frame, border, or other device that
obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by
a remote emission sensing device, as specified in Sections 44081 and
44081.6 of the Health and Safety Code, shall be installed on, or
affixed to, a vehicle."

So as long as it doesn't obstruct, it's ok.
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Mokos23

well this is what I bought from pepboys

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

^ Nice, probably illegal, but nice. Plus, with the horizontal lines the cops will know for a fact that there is a cover over your plate

NJSGTI

I have a smoked one and Ive been in front of many cops and wondered if they would pull me over. My dad and brother are both cops and neither of them have said anything about it before.

This is mine, it is smoked but isnt that dark.

dezzzmond

Its definately illegal in VA. I got a ticket for it.