Except for those who have vanity plates, most people who own cars don’t think much about their license plates. They simply put them on the car and go on about their business.
However, there are many rules and regulations that govern the use of license plates in New Jersey that if you don’t follow, can lead to you receiving a traffic ticket. Most of these rules are put in place to ensure that police officers, cameras, and plate readers can easily read your license plate.
For example:
- You must have 2 license plates: In New Jersey, all motor vehicles are required to have a license plate in the front AND the back of the vehicle. This goes for all types of motor vehicles, except for motorcycles, which are only required to have a license plate in the back.
- Your plates must be secured: This may come as a surprise to many, but you can’t simply put your plates in the front and back windows of your car. If you do so without firmly fastening the plates so that they can’t slip or slide around, you may be ticketed. What’s more, even if you manage to properly secure your license plates in the windows of your car, you may still be ticketed. This is because, in New Jersey, it is against the law to drive with anything blocking any area of your front or back window. (NY VTL 1213and N.J.S.A. 39:3-74).
- Distance from the ground: In New Jersey, your license plates must be affixed to your vehicle, such that they are no more than 48 inches above the ground and no less than 12 inches from the ground.
- Inadequate illumination: Your plates must be adequately illuminated at night. This is why vehicles are constructed with small lights around the area where your license plates should be attached. Make sure that these lights are in working order, or you may be ticketed.
- Snow and ice: You must also be sure to remove any snow and ice from your license plates that might prevent them from being read. If any letters or numbers on the plate are unable to be read, you may be ticketed.
- No glass or plastic covers: New Jersey forbids the use of any plastic or glass license plate covers, or any other covering or coating that may distort or obscure your license plate, such that they cannot be properly read or photographed.
- Parked or driving: You can be ticketed for a license plate violation, whether your vehicle is parked or being driven. If the violation was noticed while you were parked on a public road or highway (as opposed to being parked in your own driveway or garage), the violation will result in a parking ticket. If the violation was noticed by law enforcement while you were operating the vehicle, it will result in a moving violation. That said, both types of tickets essentially carry the same consequences.
The Penalties for a License Plate Violation
A license plate violation will result in a fine of up to $100 in New Jersey. Furthermore, the state has set the fine for a counterfeit license plate at $500.
What’s more, while a license plate violation doesn’t carry any points against your license and won’t usually cause your insurance premiums to go up, it can be a valid reason for law enforcement to pull you over, which can then result in other charges, both civil and criminal.
For example, if you are pulled over for a license plate violation, and the officer suspects that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may end up with a DUI. Moreover, if the officer suspects that you have been using drugs, he or she will have probable cause to search your vehicle. Then, if any illegal drugs, weapons, or contraband are found, you will be facing much more serious charges than a simple license plate violation.
Contact an Experienced New Jersey Traffic Ticket Lawyer
If you have received a ticket for a license violation in New Jersey, contact an experienced traffic ticket lawyer to help you resolve the matter with the best possible outcome.