For those in North Carolina, just a reminder and a heads up. Effective at 12:01am 12/1/2010 enforcement of the license plate frame law will begin. Under the new law passed by the NC general assembly it is unlawful to have a frame that obstructs any of the stickers or North Carolina verbiage on you tag. The fine is $100 with court costs of $141 this is a primary offense and a class 2 misdemeanor, an officer can and will stop you. Take a peak at you tag, if the frame covers any of the validation stickers, registration number, or North Carolina verbiage....take it off.

 

It'll die down after a few months. they did the same thing here.

Now you just need to take the frame off when you go for inspection

 

It's really a misdemeanor? That sounds like an awfully darn harsh classification for something so minor.

 

Yeah its really a misdemeanor, this legislation bounced around the state house for about three years before being passed. The thing that triggered it was some of the car dealers getting crazy with plate frames that just barely let you see the tag numbers. Our tags are hard to read in certain lighting anyway with the light/medium blue lettering on a white background, they should have kept the lettering red. I don't have a problem with it myself, and no plate frame is worth $241 worth of hassles.

 

well much better than a felony.

 

Just another 'revenue' scheme

 

Yeah, my state talked about doing this. It was because of the many specialty plates, something like 50, that are available. LEO's couldn't keep track, so it would make it easier. Last I heard, it was "shelved". I bet the dealers had some "juice" in regard to it's non passage.

 

Its more about officer safety and being able to clearly identify the plates, it was getting ridiculous to the point of some plates being illegible. Intentionally obscuring a plate is a no no in all 50 states, some plate frames crossed the line and the state had to crack down on them.

 

Here, check this out. The list with sample pictures. It's $25.00 for the special plate and $25 more if you personalize it.....on top of the usual plate fee. Another form for fee accumulation.


http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/vehicle/mvdplate.asp

 

Same here in Tennessee.. Not sure how much they enforce it. But I'd rather have that money in my bank, than theirs..

I think some of the frames cover the county one resides in.
Plus all the Vanity & Special plates, we have many choices here also.. I could see that as being a concern for LEO's..

Then you have the kids with the dark smoked lic plate covers (Yes I had one, long ago too).. Can't read the plate.. I was so Kewl.. lol

One thing I do appreciate here is for my Antique Motorcycle, I can display a vintage correct year TN plate, that I got off eBay. I just need to have the current plate & papers with me or the cycle at all times..

That is better than an Antique Plate, imo.. & I have yet to even be stopped for a check on that one..