Ticket for rack blocking license plate?.

So they are cracking down on this because people have been putting crappy bike racks on their cars to block their license plates for speed/red light cameras. Someone mentioned it to me and now I see it everywhere. I even saw someone
bend their rear wiper so it obstructed the plate.
 
Got pulled over for speeding on rt 206 by Stokes on the way to Port Jervice last summer. Thought for sure was going to get a ticket for at least the rack blocking the plate, but was let off with a warning for speeding. That has been only issue in 13 years of a hitch mounted rack.
 
I installed a second plate to my hitch rack so that when it’s folded up and not in use the second plate is clearly visible. Not visible when bike is on it, although my original plate is pretty visible…so far so good 🤞
 
trener1 said:
In any case, back to my original question, is there any point to trying to plead not guilty, or just pay it and move on? Does it put points on your license?
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While it’s annoying and you were probably targeted since he could not find anyone else with a violation while you were stopped, it will be hard to fight it based on the law that says your plate can’t be obstructed.
Probably not worth the time off work, tolls and gas etc compared to the fine.

It’s a non moving violation so no points. If you’re not 100% sure the Ticket should have the law code on it you can google it.
 
pay it and keep it moving. your plate was actually obstructed, not sure what leg you have to stand on if you were to fight it, or why you would want to go to court and under oath lie..

even though it was in ny it will still show on your nj record likely as 39:3-33, obstructed/fictitious license plate, no points.
 
Jmann said:
So they are cracking down on this because people have been putting crappy bike racks on their cars to block their license plates for speed/red light cameras. Someone mentioned it to me and now I see it everywhere. I even saw someone
bend their rear wiper so it obstructed the plate.
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Speed and red light cameras are illegal in NJ so that is likely not the culprit, unless you want to say EZ pass cameras.
 


A lot of it stems from the bad press surrounding cops using license plate covers to avoid tolls. But it was also becoming a known thing that obstructing your plate just enough with a rack or dirt or anything was an easy way to avoid the cameras.
 
Jmann said:


A lot of it stems from the bad press surrounding cops using license plate covers to avoid tolls. But it was also becoming a known thing that obstructing your plate just enough with a rack or dirt or anything was an easy way to avoid the cameras.
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I have never understood how so many people can use those license plate covers with no issue. People get pulled over for the littlest thing and they are everywhere.
 
It it were me, i'd say Eff it and not pay them a penny, then flee to Costa Rica and change my name to Benito Camelo.
 
icebiker said:
I installed a second plate to my hitch rack so that when it’s folded up and not in use the second plate is clearly visible. Not visible when bike is on it, although my original plate is pretty visible…so far so good 🤞
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Good idea. It is OK to have a plate on the rack and one on the rear of the car? I was trying to engineer a solution where i could move it back and forth between car and rack easily, but I like the two plate idea better.
 
Soundguy said:
Easy solution…. Ruin your nice car by putting dirty mountain bikes in it. No rack no problem.
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This, but a little dirt doesn't ruin it. I always have a painting tarp in the suv that bike goes on. Bonus, no worries about bike/rack being damaged by another car or stolen.
 
Somewhere, @Carson explained that you can't have the plate attached to something that can be removed. Does NJ have secondary plates?

If that is the case, does it need to be illuminated?

I think it was just (bad)luck of the draw. Out of state, easy peasy.
 
Patrick said:
Somewhere, @Carson explained that you can't have the plate attached to something that can be removed. Does NJ have secondary plates?

If that is the case, does it need to be illuminated?

I think it was just (bad)luck of the draw. Out of state, easy peasy.
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On the secondary plate idea. Could you register the rack as a trailer.
 
littlev21 said:
Good idea. It is OK to have a plate on the rack and one on the rear of the car? I was trying to engineer a solution where i could move it back and forth between car and rack easily, but I like the two plate idea better.
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Pretty sure 1up makes a transferrable mount.
 
Patrick said:
Somewhere, @Carson explained that you can't have the plate attached to something that can be removed. Does NJ have secondary plates?

If that is the case, does it need to be illuminated?

I think it was just (bad)luck of the draw. Out of state, easy peasy.
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I think that’s true. But since the original plate is still attached to car and is illuminated I’d like to think I’d gat a pass for at least trying 🤷‍♂️
 
Patrick said:
Somewhere, @Carson explained that you can't have the plate attached to something that can be removed. Does NJ have secondary plates?

If that is the case, does it need to be illuminated?

I think it was just (bad)luck of the draw. Out of state, easy peasy.
Click to expand...
This
 
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