[oldohioan]

Found this quite by accident while searching for license plate frames. New Arizona law. BIG FINES if the word Arizona is not visible on the plate after 12/31/08

http://www.azcentral.com/community/g...eplate-ON.html

[R W Burgess]

I was wondering when states were going to do something about this. It is the state's plate afterall. What's the big deal?

I do agree though that the fine is out of line. $50.00 should be plenty, plus costs. [img]<>/wink.gif[/img]

Wayne

[MCHinson]

In NC, GS 20-63(g) prohibits covering any part of a license plate with anything. I am a firm supporter of this law. An officer needs to be able to read a license plate without it being obscured.

I do not remember what the fine is, because I always issue warnings for that violation. The only time I have run into a person who put the cover back on the plate and actually got a ticket from me was probably over 20 years ago.

[Bluesky636]

WOW! 40 pages of comments on the azcentral website. How much do people there complain about a really serious law?

[Bhigdog]

Quote:

$50.00 should be plenty, plus costs.

Actually the "costs" are the big kicker here in PA. The last ticket I got, for failing to signal a lane change, was $15. After all the fees and costs were tacked on it came to $107. I went to court and the magistrate dismissed the charges.....Bob

[jaxops]

Actually Pennsylvania always had a law about no tinted or clear covers over the plate although frames were okay. Every time I go home I see cars everywhere with tinted plate covers. Just another law that they don't enforce.

[pfloro]

I believe the fine is $133 if you get caught here in Arizona. I'm glad to see those big frames get the legal heave-ho. I really disliked the dealer installed 'advertising' frames as it's 'in your face'. However, a thin frame (OK in AZ as long as the state name is visible) dresses up the vehicle a bit (IMHO)...

I suspect this law went into effect to make 'photo radar' more accurate & to generate revenue...

Paul

[keiser31]

I thought ALL states had the "do not obscure the plate" laws. Logic should dictate here. After all....why is that stuff stamped in and/or printed and/or stuck on to the plate if it didn't need to be seen?

[reattadudes]

I'm happy to say that the law here in Arizona will be repealed by the state legislature before the end of January.

it was ridiculous, as it concerned the capability of an officer to read the word "Arizona" at the top of the plate. who could think an officer here would not be able to identify an Arizona plate just by appearance alone? please.

this law has absolutely nothing to do with those do deliberately cover their entire plate with a film or cover to prevent photo radar from reading it (this has been illegal for many years), and everything to do with giving officers an "open door" to pull over a car. what's even more interesting to prove the point is the fact that out-of-state cars are exempt.

as a former new car dealer (and a dealer license plate frame collector), I refuse to remove the dealer frames that are on my cars now; about 80% of all cars in Arizona (like California) have frames from the selling dealer. all TV stations here are also reporting that people who are ticketed to not pay the fine, as the law will be gone very soon.

Mike
buickreattaparts.com

[Dave@Moon]

Quote:

as a former new car dealer (and a dealer license plate frame collector)....

If you ever come across a dealer license plate frame that has an inch and a half cut out of the top section, it was from an Ohio dealer. Ohio has had almost this exact law on the books for years, and the plates from at least the mid-1990s until 2001 had the word "OHIO" centered at the top where any frame would cover it.

In 2001-2003 we had a special "bicentennial" frame with "OHIO" on large letters on the left and nothing at the top. The notched frames looked ridiculous on them. Many dealers changed

In 2004 we got a new "normal" plate. Guess where they put "OHIO"! The smart dealers saved their old frames.

Although it's on the books I've never heard of anyone being pulled over for blocking the word "OHIO" on the plate. In fact about 1 in 25 cars here lack the front plate completely. When I moved here I sold my Saturn to the County Sheriff (for his wife to drive) and I asked him about that. In no uncertain words he said what amounted to "We have better things to do."