WPBN: On January 1, a new license plate rule will take effect, and drivers who violate it might face fines of up to $100. The decision, according to officials, will “clear up confusion” that many car owners may have about the issue.
Owners of vehicles should already be aware that it is against the law in the state of Washington to obscure their license plate, but this year’s legislation change may catch some people who are unaware of the law. Cars who employ license plate covers risk getting into trouble.
These coverings, which are typically made of clear plastic and cover the license plate to prevent damage, are available on Amazon for less than $20. Though the state law has never directly referenced them, they are technically illegal and have been for as long as Washington has had them.
“It is illegal to display a license plate on any vehicle that has been changed, altered or disfigured, or has become illegible,” according to RCW 46.16A.200, Section 7B, which Sullivan cites.
They do alter the license plate even though the license covers are clear. In order to do this, House Bill 1963, which now specifically covers plate covers, was passed by the legislature during the previous session.
In June, they were formally declared unlawful, and starting in January, there will be fines for infractions exceeding $100.
According to WSP Trooper Rick Johnson, who commented on the decision, the modification is required because clear covers are particularly problematic at night because they reflect headlight light, making it nearly hard for police officers to identify them.
Additionally, they make it difficult for red light or toll cameras to read the plates.
He stated that: “Some will say, well, ‘that that’s protecting my plate, and it looks nice. “The problem is that it is altering that plate. And most of the time, especially at night, the plate is unreadable if there’s a cover on it.”
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He continued: “There are different ways that people will alter or obscure their plate, and to have a law that specifically speaks to a cover over your plate, I think it’s clear.”
Trooper Johnson went on to say that selling license plate covers is still permitted in Washington; utilizing them is not.
“Those license plate covers have really tiny print on them that say ‘may not be legal for street use.'”
