License Plate Covers

pikergolf · #1 11-07-2022, 04:40 PM

Because I want to keep my new plate looking like new.

Thoughts?

fishnguy · #2 11-07-2022, 05:02 PM

I got a $90 ticket a few years ago for a clear plastic one. I was pulled over for speeding though. He said he couldn't see my plate but already had me punched in to his computer. Go figure.

barbless · #3 11-07-2022, 05:04 PM

Just keep it clean. I have had mine on my truck since 2009 and still looks great and new. I do not do gravel or dirt roads if I can stay away from. Saran wrap it

. Good smear of a good silicone or shellac. Ha ha I don't know. Let me know if you find a solution.

TyzToyz · #4 11-07-2022, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnguy

I got a $90 ticket a few years ago for a clear plastic one. I was pulled over for speeding though. He said he couldn't see my plate but already had me punched in to his computer. Go figure.

This. I thought the same thing about keeping the plate nice. Got pulled over for speeding and the cop gave me this ticket instead. (plate not properly visible or something like that). Anyways, months later, my wife was driving the vehicle (she was doing nothing wrong unless pulling into a gas station is illegal) and got a ticket for having a cover over the plate. $169
I am convinced, once you get 1 ticket, your flagged for good.
Your call though,

Tye

pikergolf · #5 11-07-2022, 05:17 PM

Well we rarely speed. About a photoradar ticket every four years, tough times though.

Smokinyotes · #6 11-07-2022, 05:23 PM

My son got stopped last week for his plate cover. He never got a ticket but the cop asked my son if he had a screw driver. My son said not with him. The cop pulled out a screw driver and took it off.

TyzToyz · #7 11-07-2022, 05:23 PM

It's not about speeding, the cop was actually being nice.
Bottom line is, it is illegal to have anything covering the license plate.
Again, your call.
Cheers,

Tye

fishnguy · #8 11-07-2022, 05:34 PM

I had mine on for about a decade too before that ticket. It was also clean. And was pulled over before that. One time a cop lit me up when I was already parked at the parking lot and said I didn’t have the license plate. I said I did in the morning and laughed; then kicked the plate with my foot a couple of times to shake off the snow. He saw the cover, thanked me and drove away. Was never an issue before and I had no idea I can’t have it (still not convinced I can’t, lol). Likely until you run into that one guy type of thing. I took mine off on both vehicles (the other vehicle also had it for at least 5 years or so).

The law reads something like “the plate cannot be obstructed” or along these lines (if I recall correctly, but don’t quite me on that). Not sure if a transparent cover is considered to be an obstruction, but I am sure it can be interpreted as such.

barbless · #9 11-07-2022, 05:41 PM

You can get a ticket for the extra tall ball receiver hitch that blocks your plate. Why don't they concentrate more on the ones who always run lights? Never stop at stop signs and heaven forbid stop at a red light before turning right. Millions of dollars to be had for the POLICEMAN'S BALL.
Oh ya, if you get pulled over by the SHERIFF you are pretty much guaranteed a ticket. That is their sole purpose on the roads.

fishnguy · #10 11-07-2022, 05:44 PM

Here, from your neck of the woods, piker: Here, from your neck of the woods, piker: https://medicinehatnews.com/news/loc...lates-blocked/

That dude clearly states it is illegal. I can’t find the legislation myself, but I know I did before and read it.

Dewey Cox · #11 11-07-2022, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbless

.
Oh ya, if you get pulled over by the SHERIFF you are pretty much guaranteed a ticket. That is their sole purpose on the roads.

They are solely tax collectors.

fishnguy · #12 11-07-2022, 05:51 PM

And here is the legislation, now I am convinced, lol:

* Obscured or covered license plates are illegal. The license plate must:
- be properly attached, visible and un-obscured at all times;
- not have any cover over it, whether it’s clear or smoked; or
- have a distorter which distorts the plate.

Who Da Fisherman · #13 11-07-2022, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbless

You can get a ticket for the extra tall ball receiver hitch that blocks your plate. Why don't they concentrate more on the ones who always run lights? Never stop at stop signs and heaven forbid stop at a red light before turning right. Millions of dollars to be had for the POLICEMAN'S BALL.
Oh ya, if you get pulled over by the SHERIFF you are pretty much guaranteed a ticket. That is their sole purpose on the roads.

Now the dentists can breathe a sigh of relief that they aren't being picked on today lol
WDF

RandyBoBandy · #14 11-07-2022, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman

Now the dentists can breathe a sigh of relief that they aren't being picked on today lol
WDF

ÜberFly · #15 11-07-2022, 09:01 PM

They would make a killing if they ticketed all the vehicles with bike racks/mounts that block licence plates!

Phil · #16 11-07-2022, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ÜberFly

They would make a killing if they ticketed all the vehicles with bike racks/mounts that block licence plates!

They would make a killing if they actually enforced the law as it is written.

fishnguy · #17 11-07-2022, 10:28 PM

I know a guy who didn't take the bike rack off his (car) trunk for a few years, regardless of the season. He got three tickets over this time period and won every single one of those in court. So probably not as easy as it seems to be.

does it ALL outdoors · #18 11-07-2022, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyzToyz

Bottom line is, it is illegal to have anything covering the license plate.

This..

Don't do it..

snipz · #19 11-07-2022, 11:46 PM

Covering your license plate is illegal. Chances that you're more going to get a ticket for it. So its wise not to do it.

fishnguy · #20 11-07-2022, 11:59 PM

I’ll also add that it isn’t likely that these plate covers provide much protection. I mean they probably do, but I haven’t noticed any difference after the few years since I took them off. Plates look the same.

ak77 · #21 11-08-2022, 12:59 AM

You either have to clean your LP or clean the cover to make it visible.
As far as legality - it's same as window tint. It's illegal, but it's a small fish to fry. If you fall into certain stereotypical categories it'll be yet another hassle to deal with. If your vehicle is presentable, you don't drive like an a-hole, and don't have a long history of violations - good chance you don't get pulled over

waldedw · #22 11-08-2022, 08:20 AM

I had a clear plastic one over the plate on the wife's van, we went to Spruce Grove to visit the kids and parked on the street, came out the next morning and had a ticket on the windshield for $108 for obscured license plate

gunluvr · #23 11-08-2022, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikergolf

Because I want to keep my new plate looking like new.

Thoughts?

I once returned a damaged license plate to the issuing office and got a new one. I don't think they charged me anything. If it gets ratty, just rough it up some more and return it.

silver lab · #24 11-08-2022, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikergolf

Because I want to keep my new plate looking like new.

Thoughts?

Maybe I don’t understand the question😁, but I made a “L” shaped piece of plastic applied to the plate holder so photo radar couldn’t see the last number, haven’t got one in the mail since…..
Not that I speed but sometimes I’m guilty of not watching my speedometer at every intersection/photo radar location…

The Cook · #25 11-08-2022, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ÜberFly

They would make a killing if they ticketed all the vehicles with bike racks/mounts that block licence plates!

Especially in Canmore, could probably pay off the deficit.

HuyFishin · #26 11-08-2022, 12:10 PM

plate covers look ugly. They look even worse when dirt and dust is stuck between the plate and the cover.

Pointless and waste of money

JB_AOL · #27 11-08-2022, 12:36 PM

Are you seriously not able to notice the bright florescent decals that are now required on photo radar vehicles, and they are no long able to "hide" between vehicles, or blind roads/etc.

If your running a red light or speeding thru an intersection, you deserve a ticket, and those covers do next to nothing.

lattery1 · #28 11-08-2022, 12:43 PM

I just forget to wash my plate most of the year. I was told by an RCMP that the plate is property of the government so I told him they should wash it.

KGB · #29 11-08-2022, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silver lab

Maybe I don’t understand the question😁, but I made a “L” shaped piece of plastic applied to the plate holder so photo radar couldn’t see the last number, haven’t got one in the mail since…..
Not that I speed but sometimes I’m guilty of not watching my speedometer at every intersection/photo radar location…

Buddy was using a rubber band… It covers a part of one of the digits. Claims he hadn’t have a photo radar ticket in ten years…

stubblejumper01 · #30 11-08-2022, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnguy

And here is the legislation, now I am convinced, lol:

* Obscured or covered license plates are illegal. The license plate must:
- be properly attached, visible and un-obscured at all times;
- not have any cover over it, whether it’s clear or smoked; or
- have a distorter which distorts the plate.

The sad part is that it’s illegal to have on the vehicle but it is not illegal for the part store to sell it. If something is illegal to use shouldn’t selling it also be ?