Got aTicket for Registration Plate Cover

Where are you located? We have the same law in TX and it says something like nothing covering and nothing blocking the word TEXAS. There was some little change in the wording where it did say "no part of the state name can be blocked" and now says something like not more than a forth can be blocked.

New York City (Brooklyn, NY)

Brooklyn, now there's the problem!

Just kidding, but I think you are out of luck unless you could hire a bandit with a briefcase for less than $65. Not likely I'm sure.

NY is the worst for this kind of stuff

In New York State it has always been illegal to have any kind of cover on the plate - transparent or not. Even the metal or plastic frames that just cover the outside edge of the plate with the center completely open, the ones that many dealers apply to a new car, are illegal. Additional lights around the plate, such as neon, are illegal. Front and rear plates are required for cars registered in NY and they both must be uncovered. A summons can be written if the car is parked on a public street or public parking lot. Either a police officer or a parking enforcement agent can write it.

Read the summons carefully for instructions. If it says "equipment violation," you may be able to have a repair shop certify it as removed and submit the paperwork to avoid the fine completely.

For the record, I am not a police officer or traffic enforcement agent.

dobs108

Just concurring with that dobs108 wrote. It's just one of those laws that has been on the books for many years. The equipment violation suggestion is a good idea, it may work but depends on exactly what you were written for.

Looks kind of smokey to me!!! I think you are out of luck. Maybe if you remove it they will cancel the ticket. Unfortunately if the law saws no covers over the plate that is what it means.....You might be able to plead your case of removing it if you have the time...

I did remove it right after I got the ticket.

they may dismiss it. Or of not, may half the fine.

Revenue is revenue no matter if it comes from red light cameras or enforcement of petty regulations.

Guess you have to weigh the price of court costs that will be added, if you fight and lose. And there is a good chance you will.

new york Traffic Law section 402-b

402. Distinctive number; form of number plates; trailers.

1.) (a) No person shall operate, drive or park a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state unless such vehicle shall have a distinctive number assigned to it by the Commissioner and a set of number plates issued by the commissioner with a number and other identification matter if any, corresponding to that of the certificate of registration conspicuously displayed, one on the front and one on the rear of such vehicle, each securely fastened so as to prevent the same from swinging and placed, whenever reasonably possible, not higher than forty-eight inches and not lower than twelve inches from the ground; provided, however, that in any registration year for which only one number plate is issued, such number plate shall constitute a set of number plates for the time in which such use is authorized, shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle and none shall be displayed on its front, except in case of a tractor, when such number plate shall be displayed on the front of the vehicle and none shall be displayed on its rear.

1(b) Number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to be easily readable and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic material, and shall not be knowingly covered or coated with any artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or obscures such number plates or that distorts a recorded or photographic image of such number plates, and the view of such number plates shall not be obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon, except for a receiver-transmitter issued by a publicly owned tolling facility in connection with electronic toll collection when such receiver-transmitter is affixed to the exterior of a vehicle in accordance with mounting instructions provided by the tolling facility.

2.) Such number plates shall be of such material, form, design and dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe, provided, however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters thereon, and provided further that no vehicle shall display the number plates of more than one state at a time except where the vehicle is required to be registered in more than one state, and provided further that the number plates of a rental vehicle shall not display any indication of the rental status of such vehicle nor shall any plate be used other than those issued by the commissioner.

Read more?
http://law.onecle.com/new-york/vehicle-and-traffic/VAT0402_4...

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Many laws they weren't enforced in the past will be dusted off as city and state governments look for creative ways to generate more revenue without having to ask voters to make new laws to enable them to do this.

because you hit the nail right on the head and straight down into the answer in one blow.

New York is not the only state with a law against license plate covers. Check and you might find that many states if not every state have such a law. Certainly every state with speed and red light cameras has one or will pass a law shortly. If you don't know about it, I think there is a deputy who will enlighten you!

dobs108

Your better off without plate covers if you are driving from state-to-state,unless you know the specifics for all states you plan on entering.

Ignorance of the law will burn you each and every time.

Pay it you can not win. The covers are banned it does not matter that it is clear. The original ones were clear. They were out with the clear ones 30 years ago and they blocked the plate from being read with a camera that is why they were outlawed.

Pay the bucks and move on.

The likelihood of finding a sympathetic judge that will ignore the law stating no plate covering or will even be willing to hear your side of the issue will not be worth the time or effort on your part. Chalk the whole thing up to experience and be sure to take the cover off the plate so as to not get nabbed again.

Ahhhhh, don't you just love your local and state governments? Coming up with idiotic laws to make "them" more money for their pet projects and what have you. Remember them when it comes re-election time and vote them out.

I think that you might win in court if you show up.
Not exactly sure about NY, but in Ohio you will not get additional costs added on if you show up in person to argue the ticket.

AND, if you show up in person, are respectful you just might get a judge who will dismiss the ticket.

I'd bring a time-stamped photo of the now clear license plate, and maybe even bring along the clear cover to show the judge you were just trying to keep a clean plate and car, and not cover up the plate or trick the cameras.

Judges are very different from most politicians. You're not a crack dealer, and you have fixed the problem and shown you care enough to visit the court and explain you are no longer in violation.

Good Luck.

I couldn't agree with you more,but until something is done he did break the written law.

I would think that NYC will be ticketing every single possible violation from the covered plates to the tinted windows in order to get more revenue.

Especially, they are very hungry for Money with Parking Tickets.

State troopers are cracking down on this as well. But in many cases, they issue summons because of those border plates. If the state name is partially blocked, it's a violation. Speeders who get caught speeding may find themselves getting a break when the police issue them for the plate infractions.

Why waste time trying to find a way out. I think if folks put the same amount of time into productive actions that they put towards trying to save a few bucks then some things might actually get accomplished.

Here's a productive action they could do instead:
http://tinyurl.com/ycmkvfz

How much is it worth to you to get it cleared? You're not getting any points and the cost of you going to the court for this is generally more then $65. Forget about it and just don't donate to those cops if the come asking.

I was speeding and I got caught, how do I get out of the ticket?

I went through a red light and got a ticket by the camera, how do I get out of it?

Pretty soon it is going to be someone walking up to somebody and beating an individual to death and asking how to get out of it.

Ok, that last was bit extreme but I think that is where it is slowly heading.

These are laws in your particular community and if they are broken you should pay the fine. A first offense you might be able to plead ignorance and get it dismissed or reduced in the case of a covered plate. Knowingly going through a red light or speeding, you should know better. Does not matter if it was a camera or a cop. If it was a camera a representative from the company or city should be able to represent the camera in the court and should be sufficient. Ideally the individual that reviews the picture/series of pictures as the as you went through the light.

The red light POI file here is not so that you can know which intersection you can safely go through but to warn you of a possible panic stop of an individual in front of you or yourself so that you do not get the ticket yourself.

In short do not break the laws that are on the books. In this economy as was mentioned they are being dusted off to be enforced. As mentioned in another thread the cushion of 5-10 MPH most of us have enjoyed for speeding is now starting to go away in some communities. By law it was always possible to be given a ticket for 1 MPH of the limit but generally was not worth the paper or time to do it. Myself 5 MPH if a reasonable cushion depending on traffic and road conditions, any higher is is pushing though I'm guilty of it myself and if/when I get caught I'll find the money to pay the fine. After all I did break the law.

The internet is a beautiful thing. In most communities it is possible to look up your local laws. It would not be a bad idea to do this so that you do not donate to the community that you live in that can sure use extra money just like everyone else.

Can't afford the time don't do the crime.

The law was put into effect to deter the forging of them. It is harder to detect a phony plate with a plastic cover, clear or smoked on it. This law had nothing to do with not allowing red light cameras to film your plate as you passed the red light. This law has been on the books longer than the RLC.

Absolutely right!

dobs108