Traffic Ticket for my Bike rack

I've never seen a bike rack that included provisions for moving the license plate, so I guess you could say that every hitch rack ever sold in the US was illegal. In spite of that, I've never before heard of an instance of the user getting a ticket. Could be a matter of the photo-ticket system not liking bike racks, or it might be a matter of revenue enhancement for cash-strapped police departments.

 

I doubt it is lack of cash for either one...simple greed seems more the case.

 

Copy machine

Make a duplicate paper copy, decoupage to a piece of wood, polyurethane coat it and proudly display your attempt to comply with 'being seen' to the rack?

 

There's probably some reason why that would be considered illegal

 

More illegal or less illegal?

Making a conscious effort to provide licensing clarity seems to be a good common sense approch that should even help in other states. This from New South Wales was all I could readily find regarding the licensing of the bike rack:

Bike rack plates

If the rear number plate of your vehicle is obscured by a bike or bike rack, you must either:

• mount the number plate elsewhere, or
• purchase a special bike rack plate.

Bike rack plates have the same number/letter combination as your vehicle's registration, but they are only available as black characters on a white background. You can order bike rack plates from a motor registry, by calling 13 22 13 or online at myPlates.


I would much rather explain the idea behind displaying a 'duplicate' than other alternatives. I hope someone will come up with a better idea or the legal definition of a 'fix'.


It's not like displaying a 'duplicate' would be replacing the regular plate that will likely be in view as well, especially if pulled over. Besides, the displayed number in plain view can be 'run' by an officer prior to stopping you for whatever reason the officer might have.


If you are from Tennessee, and have a paper duplicate' clearly displayed in addition to your legal plate, and you are being questioned in another state just say, "In Tennessee, that's how we do it!

New Jersey: http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10007
Missouri: http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Loca...ke-rack-blocking-license-plate-112291569.html
Australia (Note: no paper duplicate!): http://sa.gov.au/subject/Transport,+travel+and+motoring/Cycling/Bike+rack+number+plates

 

But that's the rub, isn't it. This is the U.S. so if something makes good common sense it's a good bet there is a law against it somewhere

 

Perhaps you're right, but it's probably because we allow it to happen. Very few people take a pro-active approach now adays; we wait until something becomes law then complain.

I just finished making a 'plate' that looks like a bike rack plate. It's a copy machine copy of an MS Word generated custom, mounted on white Plexiglas then spray Polyurethane coated on the paper which I'll let dry overnight. Tomorrow I'll finish up with routing the edge and drilling a couple of holes then mounting. I may even tie it to the spokes on a trike wheel so it looks more like what it is because in my case if the trike isn't on the rack the regular license plate is not view-obstructed.

 

As is

Here are some shots of the 'as is' condition. The strap is fastened to a cargo cleat in the vehicle and it is connected to a hook & strap that is Velcroed to the trike handlebar. It connects/disconnects rather quickly and helps a tad by supporting some cantilevered trike weight.

The 'tag' is rather self descriptive. Will it keep me from getting pulled over? It's just one of those, 'best I could do' ideas for a 1st shot. The crossed bungee straps hold it snugly against the rubber tire without touching spokes or rim.

Oh, and I went back and cut some new 'floatie-noodle' rack cushions. Paul liked them green, and quite frankly, so did I. While I had the retainer discs off, I painted them yellow (which I had available).

 

Sharp Ed Very Sharp
Yellow and Green is a nice touch.

 

That is nice...now watch some politician see it and initiate a new law saying that we HAVE to have one and then charge us out the wazoo for it...

 

You could still get pulled over. In Virginia its against the law to make and display a fictitious plate. You may want to check TN law.

 

I figured as much, put the bike on the rack and get a ticket for obstructing the plate; display the tag number on the bike (which is obstructing the actual plate) and get a ticket for displaying a fictitious plate.

No matter what you do you get a ticket.

Now that's the American judicial system at it's finest .... write contradictory laws so no matter what you do you are breaking some law, can't win for losing (and at one time I that was unique to the UCMJ)

 

The best thing you can say about cops and the laws
they choose to enforce is __________.

-Insert something positive in the above blank space.

----

Here's my answer:

The best thing I can say about cops and the laws
they choose to enforce is that I am not now and have never been a cop.
In fact, I'm not a member of any gang.

 

The best thing you can say about cops and the laws
they choose to enforce is I am glad you don't know what i do for a living.


-Insert something positive in the above blank space.