I was pulled over last night for "the light on your license plate is not working" and explained that the license plate was not light up by any light specific to the plate... and that is why he pulled me over on a very busy saturday night.
Problem - my car has no light specifically for the license plate. I am not saying the light is broken or missing - I am saying the car was not designed to have a light for the plate.
I didn't get a fix it ticket but one for no insurance - which I had in my hand at the time but he wouldn't take it...Just handed me the ticket for no insurance.
Are not the police are supposed to have probable cause to pull someone over? If it is not illegal to have no light for my plate then why would I be pulled over for that?
this is just weird.
any input would be miuch appreciated.
2007-05-06 04:13:05 · 6 answers · asked by gazelle512 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Your car should have light for the plate. Most of them are not visible (like a tail light or head light) the bulb itself is tucked up out of sight but it shines down on the plate so cops can read your tag at night. Yes, it is illegal not to have a properly lit plate.
2007-05-06 04:19:46 · answer #1 · answered by wyllow 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
License Plate Lights Law
2017-01-02 07:35:07 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
California Veh. Code 24601 states Either the taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear license plate during darkness and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. When the rear license plate is illuminated by a lamp other than a required taillamp, the two lamps shall be turned on or off only by the same control switch at all times."
The way I am understanding this is that if your car is not equipped with a light specific for the license plate, that as long as your tail lights illuminate the plate to be read from 50' you would still be legal and compliant. So unless your tail light was out you should not have been pulled over.
2016-05-23 23:01:15 · answer #3 · answered by Francine 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
License plate light is required. It most cases it falls under the same law as tail lights. The license plate must be illuminated by a white or red light, that is visible from a certain distance.
As for the no insurance ticket. Did you not have it the first time the officer approached? He probably took your stuff, went back to his car, wrote the ticket and when he came back, you finally found it.
I don't know about your local department, but at mine, I have to give you the ticket and can't make it go away. You just have to go to court.
2007-05-06 04:41:00 · answer #4 · answered by Kenneth C 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The driver of a vehicle is responsible for ensuring that his vehicle complies with all the laws of the state in which he resides. It is not up to the automobile manufacturer. For example, there are cars that do not have mounts for a front license plate, but a front license plate is required in most states - and you have to have it, whether your car is made for it or not.
The only exception would be if your car is so old that it is grandfathered under the law, and you would have to take that up with the judge.
In any case, if you have valid insurance, it is a piece of cake to get out of the ticket, then file a complaint against the officer with the deparment's Internal Affairs Division.
2007-05-06 04:20:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unless you are driving an antique, there is a light on your license plate, but it isn't working. It is not roadworthy without that light. Fix it.
Your insurance ticket can be beaten very easily in court, by showing that you had insurance at the time of the alleged offence. Have your papers with you.
2007-05-06 04:42:35 · answer #6 · answered by itsmyitch 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Ontario Canada, it is a $110 fine for not having a licence plate light. If you live here you'd have to jury rig one on your plate somehow to make it legal. Having a car without one wouldn't be an excuse.
What kind of car is it? I've never heard of a car without one.
2007-05-06 10:22:46 · answer #7 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unless you where driving a car that was built before the law requiring rear license plate to be illuminated, you are going to have an up hill battle, they did have probable cause to pull you over since that is considered a moving violation
2007-05-06 04:54:37 · answer #8 · answered by goz1111 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unless you car is very old it was made with a license plate light. it is required in georgia to have an operational one. if it is required by law then it is enough to justify a traffic stop. most officers use that as stop criteria to go fishing for other violations. most only write that ticket if you piss them off with an attitude problem during the stop
2007-05-06 11:57:37 · answer #9 · answered by thrasherfan69 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So where did you get your law degree ? An unreadable license plate IS a primary violation in every US state. So, pay up and stop whining. Jim B Toronto.
2016-03-18 06:43:14 · answer #10 · answered by Arlene 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋