Clear license plate cover legality? (college, DMV, law)

[tygger]

Does anyone know if clear license plate covers (the ones you can find in Advanced Auto or Autozone) are legal in VA?

And if so, could I get a ticket if I were in DC or MD with clear plate covers on VA tags?

Thanks

[statecollege]

I don't know, but why not ask DMV? I would guress if the numbers/letters can be read, you're legal. I have seen tinted plate protectors that make it very difficult to read the plate. Those have to be illegal, I would think.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by statecollege

I don't know, but why not ask DMV?

Perhaps because they like to yell at people?

[Bigfoot424]

As long as it's clear you won't have any problems. The problems come with the tinted ones or the clear ones that get dirty and obstruct the tag. That's when you'll run into a ticket such as an Obstructed Tag.

[935dc]

I run those clear/tinted covers on all my cars. Ive gotten a ticket for having a clear one on by some ffx county cop on 66, but ive never gotten a ticket for running the tinted one on my cars...go figure?

[Stephen 81]

You definitely don't have to worry about being pulled over in MD or DC. Even if it's against MD law, that law is for MD-licensed cars only. They won't pull you over any more than a VA cop will pull a NC or PA driver over for not having a front license plate.

[schweet]

A friend of mine is a cop and he always said to avoid putting those license plate covers on. Especially when you're driving from state-to-state, it's hard to know what the different laws are.

Also, those things just shout out that "I'm trying to evade speed cameras" so if you are pulled over for something minor and they see the "speed evaders" on your plates, they're less likely to let you go w/ just a warning.

[ZakAttack]

Originally Posted by schweet

A friend of mine is a cop and he always said to avoid putting those license plate covers on. Especially when you're driving from state-to-state, it's hard to know what the different laws are.

Also, those things just shout out that "I'm trying to evade speed cameras" so if you are pulled over for something minor and they see the "speed evaders" on your plates, they're less likely to let you go w/ just a warning.

Definitely. And the reason is those speed cameras will often catch a glare off the plastic on the clear license plate covers, and therefore law enforcement does not like them. Most states have a law that prevents anything that 'obstructs' the plates, so just be careful.

[08 300c]

Here is the law if anyone is interested in somthing other than an opinion:

It is illegal to mount license plates frames, colored glass, plastic or any other type of covering on your license plates that alters or obscures the letters, numbers, decals or the state where the vehicle is registered, and when the registration expires.

[yamota]

Why do they even sell these things?