Question for LEOs

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

I’m getting a carrier on the end of our minivan for my wife’s scooter. My concern is that when it’s on the carrier and we’re traveling that the license plate will be obscured!

SHOULD I be concerned about this? Are LEOs gonna pull me over and/or ticket me because they can’t see the back plate?

I know we have plenty of LEOs on here. Your opinions are needed!

[Alpo]

That is a good question.

 

If you have you a SUV, with the license plate in the middle of the liftgate, it's pretty visible.

 

 

But if you've got a pickup truck, same carrier, ain't no way you can see the license plate.

 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

Have you considered just relocating the plate?

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

I’m betting this is a common issue. Ask your local city/county authorities. A phone call to your local police department ought to lead you to someone who can help. 

[Lawdog]

My brother-in-law bolted his plate to two powerful magnets for his boat trailer. That may or may not be an option for you.

 

But I did find this.

 

EZ Carrier License Plate Relocator Kit | LPRK

[Stump Water]

35 minutes ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

I’m betting this is a common issue.

 

No need to bet because it is.  I see it all... the... time.   And I've always wondered why they get a pass.

[John Kloehr]

I'm not LE. Can not see the rear plate if towing a trailer, and private utility trailers in Tennessee do not require a plate...

 

It would be a "fix-it" ticket, not a moving violation. It is also (in Tennessee) a "primary" infraction; no further reason needed to pull over a vehicle.

 

Depending on your tolerance for a nuisance correction and a few dollars in administrative fees, maybe take your chances. Technically, this license plate on my toy is not in compliance (bottom part of frame covers the county name):

 

 

I'll buy a slimmer frame if I get cited. Until looking up my state law just now, I did not even realize it is a violation. Also, that is an old pic from December of '21 when I got and installed the plate, the registration is definitely current.

Edited August 6, 2025 by John Kloehr

[Texas Joker]

Display plate in back window

 

2 self tapping screws relocate plate to carrier

[Lawdog]

Or we could see what Texas law says.

 

Texas Transportation Code - TRANSP § 504.945 | FindLaw

[Stump Water]

26 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

bottom part of frame covers the county name

 

LP frames were made illegal in NC many years ago*.  So were windows tinted so dark you can't see in the vehicle.  Do you see them?  All the time.  Ever heard of anybody getting stopped or cited?  Never.

 

* A lot of dealers provide them for you.  Free advertising.   Side note:  Before signing I've made the dealer remove any dealer name/logo stickers on any car I've ever bought and show me there's no evidence it was ever there..

 

 

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

Relocate the plate when transporting the scooter. Yes there are police officers that will initiate a traffic stop for an obscured registration plate. 
Same goes for the bike racks. 

[Texas Maverick]

I know in Oklahoma and Colorado we didn't have issues with cars or trucks with wheel chairs blocking the tag. If we had any concerns we would stop the vehicle and check out the tag to make sure it was current but we didn't write tickets for it blocking the tags. Not sure if it was because it was legal or we just didn't feel like writing a ticket. 

 

TM

[Subdeacon Joe]

3 hours ago, Alpo said:

 

 

3 hours ago, Alpo said:

But if you've got a pickup truck, same carrier, ain't no way you can see the license plate.

 

 

On the assumption that the carrier mounts into the hitch receiver,  get another tube mounted a few inches lower.

 

That said, i agree with Slim, give your local police and sheriff a call.  Or your state Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Edited August 6, 2025 by Subdeacon Joe

[Cypress Sun]

If the plate is relocated, doesn't the tag light technically need to be relocated also? The "tag light out" stop is not uncommon around here if they want a closer look at the vehicle and occupant...not that that's entirely legal.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

3 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Have you considered just relocating the plate?

A simple solution.

[El Chapo]

11 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said:

If the plate is relocated, doesn't the tag light technically need to be relocated also? The "tag light out" stop is not uncommon around here if they want a closer look at the vehicle and occupant...not that that's entirely legal.

 

You would just install another one.

 

In my state, it's perfectly legal to stop a vehicle for not having the license plate illuminated at night and I'd imagine that is the law everywhere; all factory vehicles have illuminated rear license plates.

 

I would check your state law about the height of the license plate as well.  I don't believe my state has height requirements but I'm sure some do.  

 

When I had a truck camper, I would relocate the plate onto the camper when it was installed and it would be illuminated by a light installed on the camper.

 

An easy way to do it is to install a light and plug the wiring into your trailer wiring.  That will give you a spot to obtain the power from your running lights that powers your license lamp and an easy way to remove it if you're not carrying the scooter.

[Black Angus McPherson]

5 hours ago, Texas Joker said:

Display plate in back window

 

2 self tapping screws relocate plate to carrier

 

"Improperly displayed plate"

 

For the OP:  Yes, you can be stopped if your license plate is obscured.  Most cops won't mess with it, but it could happen.  Highway Patrol lives to write tickets.

 

Angus

[Matthew Duncan]

5 hours ago, Lawdog Dago Dom said:

Or we could see what Texas law says.

 

Texas Transportation Code - TRANSP § 504.945 | FindLaw

Your post the facts and it doesn’t appear, from further posts, no one bothered to read it.

 

”c) Subsection (a)(7) may not be construed to apply to:

(3) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner;

 

 

Edited August 6, 2025 by Matthew Duncan

[Rip Snorter]

Sometimes I just gotta wonder, and according to the Wife I worry about to much odd stuff already!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

The rear plate must be fully visible. 

[Matthew Duncan]

20 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

The rear plate must be fully visible. 

Read the Admin’s posted link.

[John Kloehr]

On 8/6/2025 at 3:17 PM, Cypress Sun said:

If the plate is relocated, doesn't the tag light technically need to be relocated also? The "tag light out" stop is not uncommon around here if they want a closer look at the vehicle and occupant...not that that's entirely legal.

In Tennessee, a failed license plate bulb is a primary offense and no further reason is needed for a stop. It would just be a fix-it ticket.

 

Interestingly, a headlight out is not a primary infraction and another primary reason is required for a stop. I got pulled out of a line of speeders as a headlight was out (full daylight, clear, dry, and sunny). I got a double warning, for speed and the headlight.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Matthew Duncan said:

Read the Admin’s posted link.

That's in TX. In PRK, back when I was Po-Po. The plate could not be blocked from view in any way.

[John Kloehr]

17 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

That's in TX. In PRK, back when I was Po-Po. The plate could not be blocked from view in any way.

My favorite back then was the guy with an El Camino. Plate was XXXYXXX. He had a trailer ball on the bumper which covered the bottom half of the middle letter. Factory bumper so there!

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

31 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

That's in TX. In PRK, back when I was Po-Po. The plate could not be blocked from view in any way.

 

Indeed.

 

Two or three years ago I got pulled over one night after ten pm after some late grocery shopping.  Seems the bumper-mounted hitch ball on my '01 Dodge Ram "could possibly obscure the license plate."  Mebbe... if someone was behind me in a Miata or a luge.  From any regular automobile a person behind me might have to move their head an inch or so to see around the ball.  In a full-sized SUV such as the CHP and sheriff department like these days, no problem.  This CHP officer was in one.

 

Well... I'm not sure what he expected, but it wasn't some ol' grampaw-ish dude with a bag o' groceries and a Scoutmaster uniform hanging behind the seat.  Clear-eyed, alert, sober and smiling.

 

"Dangit, I was hopin' you'd be Peter!" I said, after motioning him to open my passenger door (no electric windows and WAY too far to reach).

 

Fella was startled, and blurted out the bit about my hitch ball.  Then he asked "Peter?"  

 

"Yeah... Peter ******."  Peter's an acquaintance, and the son of an old Scouting friend.

 

Anyway, we chatted for a bit, then he smiled and said that yeah... the hitch ball was just an excuse to pull me over and check me out; don't worry about it.

 

I pulled it off when I got home - never used it anyway; preferred the hitch mount.  And don't need to be trolling for bored LEO's.  

 

 

[Matthew Duncan]

57 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

That's in TX. In PRK, back when I was Po-Po. The plate could not be blocked from view in any way.

Wasn’t OP asking about Texas laws?

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

17 minutes ago, Matthew Duncan said:

Wasn’t OP asking about Texas laws?

He did not specify 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

22 minutes ago, Matthew Duncan said:

Wasn’t OP asking about Texas laws?

 

5 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

He did not specify 

The OP does travel to matches in other states.

[John Kloehr]

23 minutes ago, Matthew Duncan said:

Wasn’t OP asking about Texas laws?

While not specified, profile shows Texas. Earlier post to actual law shows he is fine. Besides, the car with the platform for assisted transportation is not consistent with the 'droids the officers are looking for.

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

On 8/7/2025 at 6:35 PM, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

 

The OP does travel to matches in other states.

Indeed I do!!

That’s one of the reasons I posted!

Just knowing Texas laws isn’t a big help! But at this point I’ve gotten good ideas! Thanks everyone!

Edited August 10, 2025 by Tell Sackett SASS 18436

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said:

But at this point I’ve gotten good ideas! Thanks everyone!

Just as a wrap up, I'd like to know what you decide to do. Pictures would be good, too. It might help somebody else.

[Sedalia Dave]

1 hour ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said:

Indeed I do!!

That’s one of the reasons I posted!

Just knowing Texas laws isn’t a big help! But at this point I’ve gotten good ideas! Thanks everyone!

 

Your vehicle needs to be TEXAS legal.

 

It does not have to comply with the sometimes conflicting rules from the other 49 states.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

 

3 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

Your vehicle needs to be TEXAS legal.

 

It does not have to comply with the sometimes conflicting rules from the other 49 states.

Believe he was concerned more about being pulled over.