How can you be charged for fictitious plates if someone changed 1 plate on your car without your knowledge?

Question

My husband was arrested and charged with fictitious plates today. The officer pulled him over for no seat belt only to find that he was belted but because he had on a black work shirt and it was a black strap that he couldn't see it. However when he ran the back plate he found out it was from a stolen vehicle, but the front plate was registered to our car. Even after admitting that someone probably traded the plate the officer impounded the car, arrested my husband, and charged him with fictitious plates.

Answer 1

was the car currently registered under the correct plate?

Answer 2

Seriously? Are you seriously asking this question?

How many times did you or your husband walk up to your car from the back and you didn't notice a difference license plate?

Sorry, I have no sympathy

Answer 3

As the one person said, ultimately the owner is required to know what is going on with their car, all areas of the car. For instance, you leave your house in the evening, put on the lights. Along the way, your light burns out, you might know if you have a newer car, but if you drive an old car, you likely won't know until you get pulled over, or somebody driving near you happens to tell ya. Luck of the draw, you get pulled over and you are "what?" Depending, you can be ticketed, or you may just get a warning. You didn't know, how could this be, I'll have to take time off work to go to court and ask to have the ticket removed. Welcome to our world, it's just the way it is.  

Answer 4

Wow.  I got a ticket for the same thing and even admitted to the officer that I had changed them from another car.  I believe my lawyer got me off by saying that I did not know they had been changed(funny since I admitted it).  I believe you are in a much deeper situation because of the plate being stolen.  I would suggest getting a lawyer.  A public defender may be able to get you off this if your husband has a perfectly clean record but I would not put my future in a PD's hands.

Answer 5

Because the owner is ultimately responsible for the vehicle.