Frame on a license plate?

Question

I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, I HAVE A FRAME ON MY PLATE,YOU CAN NOT SEE THE STATE NAME. CAN I BE STOP BY A POLICE

Answer 1

well police will know when its there state license plate but some polices just stop people to make money out of them i would recommend to take it off.

Answer 2

It would probably be the perfect chance to pull you over if they had no other reason. The claim would be "improper display" since the frame should not block any information on the plate.

Answer 3

Yes. It is illegal to cover the state name.  You could be stopped tomorrow, or not for months, even years.  Your plate number is only unique in your home state, and could be duplicated in more than one other state or Canadian province.

Read the instructions that come with every plate frame sold everywhere, and you see wordings to the effect that the frames are not guaranteed to pass state, provincial, or federal laws in every country in the world, so it is up to the user to ensure compliance by altering the frame, moving the plate so it conforms, or just plain not using it.

Okay, the person or persons who tell you it is not illegal are WRONG!.  From up here in Canada, I can still find the relevant code that applies to New Jersey.

From the New Jersey Permanent Statutes Database, Title 39, an excerpt from 39:3-33. Markers; requirements concerning; display of fictitious or wrong numbers, etc.; punishment

"No person shall drive a motor vehicle which has a licence plate frame or identification marker holder that conceals or otherwise obscures any part of any marking imprinted upon the vehicle's registration plate or any part of any insert which the director, as hereinafter provided, issues to be inserted in and attached to that registration plate or marker."

In other words, it is illegal to cover up or obscure ANYTHING that is printed on the plate, and that means the state name as well as the registration number.

Answer 4

It becomes "probable cause" and you can be stopped and even cited. A frame cannot legally block any information that is on the plate. And I know we see them every day, and we also see stuff hanging from rear view mirrors, another "probable cause." Will you be stopped, most likely not, can you be stopped, you betchya. Worth the chance? Your decision.

Answer 5

No, I see that all the time. As long as you can read the number clearly, it's fine. I have asked police officer friends about this, and none said anything about it being illegal.

I could never understand why anyone wants license plate frames anyway. They serve no useful purpose other than free advertising for the car dealer. Plus, they're ugly and detract from the appearance of the car. When I buy a new car, the first thing I do is take the frame off and toss it in the trash.

Unless yours is something special that you paid money for, you should just get rid of it and not worry about it.