Under Illinois law, any type of frame or cover that “interferes with the visibility or electronic recording of the plate image” is illegal. I think as long as the license plate, condition and sticker are visible, everything is fine. Where, as in the present case, the legal and regulatory wording is clear and contains no gaps, we are not tempted by the Commonwealth`s argument that we should identify a different legislative intent based on the section of G.L.C.90 which regulates windscreens and windows, G.L.C.90, § 9D. Although this section determines the degree of tint of the panes, see G.L.c. 90, § 9D.4, [Note 10], there is no reason to include this specification in the section of the Act that regulates distinctive signs if The legislature has not done so. General Laws ca. 90, § 6. The Commonwealth argues, as a first impression, that “it doesn`t matter if the Trooper could read the file. the judgment was lawful because driving with a license plate cover tinted according to the plain text of G. L. c. 90, § 6, the plain language of an implementing order, 540 Code Mass.
Regs. § 2.23 and the two underlying directives. “Private Sweeney regularly makes such stops when there is a lid of any kind on a license plate. The following table lists U.S. laws, statutes, and regulations regarding the use of license plate covers, frames, and shields by state. “Legible license plates that enable rapid vehicle identification are a road safety priority and necessary for the implementation of the new fully electronic toll system now installed on the Tobin Bridge, which will be expanded to all toll roads in Massachusetts over the next two years,” MassDOT said in 2014. “For vehicles without an E-ZPass transponder, a camera captures an image of the license plate and a plate payment invoice for the toll is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle.” “Private Sweeney observed a plastic cover on the rear registration plate of the defendant`s motor vehicle and immediately placed it on the vehicle for obstruction of the license plate in violation of [G. L. c. 90, § 6]. [Note 3] The soldier did not explicitly say that the reason he could not see the license plate was because of its lid. The only reason for the judgment was a violation of [G.L.c. 90, § 6.
However, the court notes that the plaque was not obstructed. The judgment was therefore not authorized. [Note 2] During the annual safety inspection in Massachusetts, technicians at the inspection station began removing plate frames from owners` vehicles. We spoke to Tom Daley about the application of the new rule. Tom is co-owner of Daley Service in Norfolk, Massachusetts. Tom told BestRide that Massachusetts contracts with a company that regularly inspects and certifies the station for annual safety inspections. A district court judge who granted an accused`s pre-trial request to suppress evidence seized from a state soldier during a motor vehicle stop, based on the soldier`s finding that the vehicle had a tinted plastic cover on its rear license plate, what is against G.L.c. 90, § 6, did not err when he found that the soldier, agreed in court, that a photo represented the license plate and its cover exactly as they appeared when he arrested the defendant [773-774], or by noting that the photo showed a “clear” license plate, that is, the cover did not impede the visibility of the license plate, independent of a shade [774-775]. New Jersey Port Authority police found that people were using grease to cover license plates and even found that a truck driver had set up a system to return his front license plate as he crossed the E-ZPass lane. Nor does the regulation provide for a general ban on licence plate covers.
[Note 8] Instead, it only bans covers that significantly reduce the readability or reflective quality of the license plate: “Harassing a sign or changing a sign is just a violation,” Huff said. With any upward trend in any type of toll activity, we can use a special FHP app. Massachusetts has a law that requires license plates to be legible and discovered by a glass or plastic lid or other device. An offence is $35 for the first offence, $75 for the second offence and $150 for the third offence. States want nothing to obscure this revenue-generating photo. “Easily identifiable license plate information is not only essential to road safety, but also promotes the fair collection of tolls for vehicles without E-ZPass transponders,” said Frank DePaola, administrator of MassDOT Highway, in 2014. During the hearing, defence lawyer Trooper Sweeney presented a photo of the licence plate in question with the said plastic lid intact. Like many states, Massachusetts is also eliminating the old single (green) plates that are still in circulation, forcing owners to get new front and rear plates of the new double style. Again, this is so that plate readers can properly collect revenue and perform on-site checks for pending warrants or late fines. If you think this is just the latest affront to American civil liberties, you should watch the video below. Canada is far ahead of us. Almost without exception, every new car buyer goes home with a license plate frame attached to their new car.
It is placed there by the dealer as an advertisement, but they help prevent license plates from being folded in car washes. Many people like to buy a custom plaque frame to show their support for their favorite team or organization, or to display a fun slogan. This everyday part of car culture is about to change. Paper plates will expire in 2019 after a new law is signed in California this year. Temporary license plates must appear on cars when they are sold. Plate frames or stickers that cover the top or bottom of the plate trigger the release, in addition to plates covered with glass or plastic, of decals or other objects that may interfere with the identification of the plate. It is especially important to be aware of the laws and regulations of each state that govern license plates when traveling, as they can vary greatly from state to state. A license plate frame or cover allowed in your state may be restricted or even illegal in another.
If you`re shuttling between two states or planning a land trip, what was completely legal or allowed in your state could get you in trouble once you cross the state border. License plate frames can be a fun and creative way to decorate or customize your vehicle and add that personal touch. If you`re looking for a solution to these pesky red light and speed cameras, an anti-photo license plate cover might be just what you need. However, before choosing a frame or coverage, check the local regulations in your area. There may or may not be restrictions, depending on the laws of your state. Port Authority police determined that the license plate of this truck was covered in grease after stopping it and charging the driver for not paying tolls at the George Washington Bridge. (Port Authority Police) So there you have it. A complete list of the license plate framework laws of the 50 U.S. states. I will try to keep this list up to date if necessary. If you find any fixes or updates to make, feel free to comment on this below, and I`ll add them as soon as possible. [Note 8] A general regulatory ban on license plate covers cannot be reconciled with plain language.
“An agency regulation that contradicts the plain language of the law and the underlying purpose can be rejected by the courts.” Spaniol`s Case, 466 Mass. 102, 110 (2013), cited in Smith v. Commissioner for Transitional Assistance, 431 Mass. 638, 646 (2000). [Note 2] If the judge had concluded that the soldier initiated the stop because the license plate seemed hidden from him (a question of fact), rather than systematically stopping vehicles that had “a lid of any kind on a license plate” (a legal error, as we will discuss), it would be a different case. In these circumstances, the test would be whether “the facts and circumstances known to the staff member were sufficient to give rise to reasonable suspicion. within a reasonable time. Officer [that the shade was dark enough to cover the license plate, which violates § 6]. Commonwealth v. Smigliano, 427 Mass. 490, 493 (1998). Compare Commonwealth v.
Baez, 47 Mass. App. Ct. 115, 118 (1999). For the difference between roadside checks based on an error of law and an error of fact, see generally Commonwealth v. Rivas, 77 Mass. App. Ct. 210, 216 n.6 (2010), cited in United States v. Coplin, 463 F.3d 96, 101 (1st Cir.
2006): “[There is] a substantial difference between roadside checks based on the error of law of a police officer and those based on the error of fact of a police officer. Judgments based on an error of law, even a reasonable error in good faith, are generally considered unconstitutional. ==REFERENCES==Many years ago, when I inspected cars, drivers were not told that they could not cover the license plate. This included both panel frames and transparent lids. Although it was the law, in my opinion, it was not very well enforced. The following information comes from the Massachusetts RMV website: Regulations require that all letters, numbers, stickers, and symbols on the license plate be clearly visible. A license plate frame that blocks part of the plate is illegal, and you could be fined if you have a clogged plate. For more information about inspection procedures, see www.mass.gov/rmv and www.vehicletest.state.ma.us. `A reflected registration plate issued by the Motor Vehicle Register and affixed to a motor vehicle or trailer shall be covered with glass, plastic or similar material if that material reduces the legibility or reflective properties of that plate.` Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) reminded motorists Tuesday that state law (Chapter 90, Section 6 of the Massachusetts General Laws) requires license plates to be legible and free of covers that obscure numbers.