Submitted by Even-Vegetable-1700 t3_10bgt9h in RhodeIsland
Can someone please explain the purpose of the dark plastic covers over license plates? I mean the dark ones so you have to be within 5 feet to read the plate? Is this even legal? If it’s not legal why do I see so many?
The only thing is your car won’t pass inspection with them on, but they’re mostly to make it so the cameras can’t see your registration.
$85 ticket for display of plates violation. Luckily when this happened to me they threw out the ticket when I put the plate covers in the recycling at the police station. Cited the penal code. Omitted point A because that's about registration tags
§ 31-3-18 Display of plates – Penalties:
(b) Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging at a height of not less than twelve inches (12") from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate; in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.
Because people think they can opt out of the laws around driving. And it’s a signal you’re an a**hole basically.
Stops plate readers at speed cameras
My question is do they even work? Does EZ pass not pick up your plates if you have them? What about the red light cameras?
Some people are desperate to “defend their rights” or some shit. The covers block pictures taken by cameras. It’s a pretty hefty fine for having one.
It seems to me that the type of person that believes that they’re so special that they shouldn’t have to obey speed limits is also the type to leave the scene of an accident or evade being identified after committing any crime. I just don’t understand the lax enforcement. It’s right out there in your face.
Mythbusters tried em. Iirc that was busted.
Maybe they’re trying to protect that shitty wave plate that keeps delaminating.
Yes, this is more the issue, IMO. Straight up robbery.
It doesn't even work. Myth busted!
because they haven't seen Mythbusters
Yes, but it's not a surprise they think like that when so many people do it.
If you go into any parking lot, one out of every 10 cars probably has something illegal. Whether it's mis aimed lights, window tint, license plate covers, bike racks that cover the plate, wheels that stick past the fenders, extra loud mufflers, things hanging from the rear view mirror, the list is massive. Since almost nothing ever happens to most people, the law feels pretty optional.
The cops gave up on traffic enforcement a long time ago. Too many people to manage that way. We could probably make automated systems to handle it, like we do with stop light cameras, but lawyers 20+ years ago fked us on that avenue. We could create stricter licensing requirements and require re-examination every 5 years or so, but without any reasonable public transit alternative the entire working class would go bankrupt as soon as they fail their written test. Which almost everyone will do.
They don't, it's yet another way someone found to fleece a few million from dummies.
I'm not even worried about what it says about a person. We have a law about it, so it should be enforced, or we should get rid of the law. I don't understand how it's not enforced. Like at all.
I would get my windows tinted tomorrow if I wasn't worried about breaking the law, but every day I see people breaking that law I think to myself, maybe I should take that chance too.
How much did the replacement plate cover you put on later that day cost …?
That's was for radar and laser speed guns though right? Did they do traffic cameras. I had assumed they did nothing because the cameras probably have both visible and IR spectra.
This makes it better.
we have plastics today that are clearish looking forward and you can’t see through at an angle
I didn't. I just screwed the plates to the bumper. After being stopped 6 times without a ticket I figured they ran their course. I did however use the stainless steel screws and screw caps that came with the plate covers
Driven all over the country and I don't think I've even seen one outside of an hour radius of the state (and even then, they pretty much drop to 0 in MA and CT after 20 minutes).
The other thing you need to worry about when adding window tint or some other mods is your insurance. Depending on the carrier, thay can deny your claim if you have an "illegally modified vehicle."
Most won't but it's a big claim they will try every trick in the book to find a way to deny it. On the other hand, a ticket for tint can absolutely raise your rates. Many insurance companies have this clearly listen in thier policies. This is directly from Progressive's website:
"Do window tint tickets affect car insurance?
A window tint ticket can affect your car insurance rate, just like any other violation on your record. Plus, if your tinted windows are darker than the legal limit and you get into a covered car accident, your insurance company may not pay for all damages to the illegally tinted windows. Depending on your insurer, there may also be other potential effects to your car insurance policy."
There are a lot of silly things you can add to your car to personalize it. There doesn't have to be a reason for their existence. Some of them will earn you a ticket, however. This is one of them.
*Claims to...
They don't work
MA and CT don't have traffic enforcement cameras, RI does
Yeah, but I've driven cross country several times and lived in other states/cities with cameras and have never experienced this either. Admittedly, NYC has its own issues with people obscuring plates, but not covers.
Personally, I actually find the cameras to be less of a hindrance then constant toll roads I've had to deal with in other areas. I'd expect more people to try and avoid ez pass more than the possibility of a ticket which can be avoided if you don't blow red lights.
Yeah, the cameras will see right through the cover, even a dark or smoked plate cover.
If tint didn’t actually make a car look sleeker, then why do most cars in car commercials have tint?
My car looks sleek with it.
If only. I see them daily.
Fair enough. I just know that’s why people buy them.
If you want your windows tinted and don’t mind the hassle of redoing it every couple years then you should.
Yeah but also nobody bats an eye at frames, stickers and other shit.
The law contains specific wording that says your plate has to be free from foreign material. Foreign material is any object placed on the plate. Some examples are affiliation stickers, license plate frames and covers.
I see them on murdered out Ford explorer STs, which are most definitely driven by off duty leo. They must think it works...
I suspect a lot of it isn't hiding the plates for nefarious reasons, but rather they want to be seen as the person would
Sorry I care about my cars appearance and enjoy audio
[deleted] t1_j4a4fxx wrote
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