" License plate covers not legal if cloudy, tinted "
Question:
Last week in this space, we explained that Washington state requires vehicle
owners to get new license plates every seven years in order to maintain their “reflectiveness,”
making it easier for law enforcers to read them. That prompted three readers –
Tom Jensen of Auburn, Terry Slaton of Federal Way and Bruce Mathiason of Graham
– to ask variations of this follow-up:
If law enforcers are so
concerned about making sure license plates are readable, why are some vehicle
owners allowed to put clear or even tinted covers over their plates?
Answer:
Tinted or smoked plate covers are prohibited by state law, said Sgt. Freddy
Williams of the Washington State Patrol.
The law, RCW 46.16.240, states,
“It is unlawful to use any holders, frames, or any materials that in any manner
change, alter, or make the vehicle license number plates illegible.”
Clear plate covers are allowed
as long as they do not affect the “readability” of the license number, Williams
said. He said clear covers become opaque over time.
“Vehicle license plates provide
law enforcement personnel with the ability to effectively identify motor
vehicles in a number of instances which may include stolen vehicles, Amber
Alerts, involvement in a hit-and-run, and being on the lookout for suspects at
large for violent crimes,” Williams said.
He said law enforcers can issue
a verbal warning, a written warning or a ticket for such violations as tinted
plate covers, no front license plate or an improperly placed license plate.
In fact, The News Tribune’s
story on Sunday about road rage included a picture of a state trooper who had
just given a warning to the driver of a pickup that didn’t have a license plate
on the front of the vehicle.
Williams offered this
observation as well: “I wish I had a dollar for every expiration tab I have seen
stuck to the cover instead of the license plate. Not only is this illegal, it
facilitates the stealing of the tab.”
Got a question
about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues?
Send it to traffic@
thenewstribune.com . Include your name,
hometown and daytime telephone number. We’ll answer as many as we can. Find an
archive of previous answers at
www.thenewstribune.com/news/traffic/qa
Source: [ thenewstribune ]
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