New Arizona License Plate Law
December 9, 2008
Post Tags: $150 dollar fine , arizona license plate frame
BARE ARIZONA ON YOUR PLATE
The new Arizona License Plate law could cost a lot of Arizonans a lot of money; $151 and $160 if you are stopped in Tucson.
What’s the BEEF?
Total Visibility of ARIZONA
Arizona Covered
You know those frames that go around your license plate to keep it from just looking like a rough rectangle of metal. The frame that often has advertising for the auto dealer or your favorite cause or association.
Well, as of January 1, 2009 it becomes a primary offense to have the word ARIZONA covered or even partially covered.
A primary offense means you can (and will) be stopped for it.
Arizona Partially Covered
Arizona Partially Covered
In our second example it is only partially covered. As you can see, it is possible to make out that it is an Arizona Plate, but this is still a violation. The word ARIZONA can not even be partially covered.
Even if it is just the tip top of the letters it is in violation of the new law.
It is billed as a safety issue and making it easier for Law Enforcement to identify state plates. Apparently they can’t see the purple mountains and saguaro or the burgundy color that has been on the Arizona License plates for years.
Legal Arizona License Plate Frame
Personally, I think $150 fine is exorbitant and out of order. And for Tucson to tack on another $9 if the fine is levied in Tucson is . . . .
And with the state budget shortfall don’t believe this isn’t going to be enforced. I don’t know how long you have to make the change after being cited before they can issue a second citation. But I don’t doubt it could and probably will happen.
Not all license plate covers are in violation. You can see the last plate frame does not cover the word ARIZONA.
I’m posting this in hope that everyone reading the post will check their vehicles for compliance. Send a like to this post to everyone you know in AZ that has a vehicle that might be in violation of this new law.
Arizona License Plate Frame Survey
I dropped my Tracker off to have the tires rotated. I walked across the parking lot to the local McDonald’s at Oracle and Magee Rd. On the trip back I counted 20 vehicles in violation and I wasn’t even trying. I took the photos in this post while walking back to pick up my Tracker. I never had a frame around my plate. Barbara had a frame on her’s that covered up the top 1/8th of an inch. I removed it yesterday.
If you are on Twitter and live in Arizona I would recommend you tweet this post.
If you work for a car dealership or a car service business it would be great customer service to alert customers of the impending fine for their plate frames coming January 1.
I’m also calling many of my friends and relatives and emailing the link to this post to our clients.
I’m on a personal campaign to save as many Arizonans from being ticketed for this offense as I can. I know the state needs money, but I know this law is going to cause a lot of hard feeling against the state of Arizona especially given the hard economic times everyone is currently facing.
December 9th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
What about drivers passing through Arizona with plates from other states?
December 9th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
It is only Arizona Plates.
December 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
This new law is a biggy. The police can pull you over right away if you break this new rule.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
We tested the REALTOR plate covers that were being sold at the T.A.R. store and they failed! We pulled them out of the store. So if you bought one, make sure you remove it! (sorry, no refunds though) Cheers to yet another waste of AZ tax dollars to debate and pass a worthless law like this.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Scott,
Bummer, Hope you get the word out by email to all members and they in turn to clients to let them know of this new tax revenue stream, I mean law.
December 13th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
“Arizona Frame Up”
After researching the origins of this “law”, I consulted with the primary sponsor of the original (2006) bill. She told me that the “frame” issue was pushed by others into her original bill on veterans plates.
There is something more to this issue than has been reported, and my belief that it is “photo enforcement”. We will continue researching the history and looking at the “lobbyist droppings” along the way.
Until the real truth is dicovered, the enforcement of this so-called new law should only be as a “repair order” with NO fine imposed. Start calling your public officials NOW and demand this policy change.
December 18th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
[...] are some photos, courtesy of Dave Smith in Tucson, writer of the fabulous Real Estate Blog Lab, TucsonAZRealEstateBlog.com and other worthy [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
If I have a frame that says ARIZONA on the top of the frame where the state name is on the plate may I leave the frame on the car?
December 18th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Debbie,
Nope, the word Arizona has to be visible on the Plate, not on the frame. It might be to the officers discretion, but for me, I took all the frames off.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:44 am
[...] Read More Full Statute Opinions [...]
December 29th, 2008 at 10:51 am
So, can we “modify” the holes in the plates to shift the frames up and then be legal, or is there some other screwy law regarding physical changes to the plates?
December 29th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Scott,
My recommendation, Ditch the frame.
December 31st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
This is just another example on a long list of how our country is being slowly and systematically converted to socialism. “We the people” are allowing the Government to excersise way too much power over us. I wish I was smart enough and had the ability to organise against these government imposed attrocities. “We the people” need to excersise our right under the declaration of independance to throw out this current corrupt government and establish a new government under the constitution!!!
December 31st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I have seen people with plastic frames break them at the top between the screw holes so ARIZONA could be seen and they could still use their frame. Looks kind of redneck though.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Motorcyclists beware!
If you have a side mounted license plate frame instead of on the rear fender (i.e. swingarm mounted), you will also get a ticket even if ALL of the license plate is visible. They require that the license is visible from all sides and all angles from the rear of the vehicle. Many Harley and custom bikes have this type of custom mount. It means the $200.00 – $300.00 you spent to make you bike/license look nice is now worthless.
Thanks MVD!!!
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Bob,
Thanks for this additional information.
According to the Arizona Daily Star headlines there is a move to repeal the law being considered.
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Thanks Dave. Let’s hope they do. It is starting to feel like we are in Mexico. Before you know it, they will just have the police pulling over anyone they want and demanding $100.00 cash or go to jail. It is horrible when government starts criminalizing decent tax paying citizens in order to help balance the budget instead of serving the people which is what we hire them to do. IMHO.
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Bob,
Amen.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Can anyone cite or point to the entire AZ statue as it relates to this issue that includes the exact language of what must be seen, from what angle & how far?
January 7th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Bruce,
A.R.S 28–2354 states (in part):
A person shall display all license plates as required by subsection A until their lawful use expires or is canceled or revoked. A person shall maintain each license plate so it is clearly legible and so that the name of this state at the top of the license plate is not obscured.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Here it is in tis entirety from AZ State Legislature website:
• http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/02354.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS
28-2354. License plates; attachment
A. A person shall display the license plate or plates as follows:
1. For a motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer, on the rear.
2. For a vehicle for which two license plates are issued, the vehicle owner shall display either of the following:
(a) One plate on the rear.
(b) One plate on the front and one plate on the rear.
B. A person shall display all license plates as required by subsection A until their lawful use expires or is canceled or revoked. A person shall maintain each license plate so it is clearly legible and so that the name of this state at the top of the license plate is not obscured. A person shall securely fasten each license plate to the vehicle as follows:
1. To prevent the plate from swinging.
2. At a height of at least twelve inches from the ground to the bottom of the plate.
3. In a position to be clearly visible.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Nothing about sideway mounted plates for motorcycles anywhere in the ARS. Nothing about angles, feet or other viewing distance or vertices. What dictates what is clearly visible?
This ambiguity sure leaves judicial interpretation open to compliance enforcement staff on the street.
And has anybody seen the ‘Fallen Police Officer’, ‘Golden Rule’ & particularly the ‘Environmental’ AZ license plates? They are not clearly legible on their own, especially with the non-embossed characters now being used – even with no plate cover or frame on them.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I’ve seen a lot of articles with interpretations that seem to go beyond what this statute literally requires, but what’s “required” is a bit tough to figure out. The plate must be “clearly legible” and “clearly visible,” and the state name must not be “obscured.” But what, exactly,does all that mean, and why do they use so many different words. My driver’s license, for example, is “clearly legible,” and when I take it out of my wallet and put it on the table, it’s “clearly visible,” even if it’s face down. I presume they mean that the words, numbers and letters must be “clearly visible,” but that’s not what they wrote. The plate, of course, is “clearly visible” even if it’s mounted with the shiny side out.
And no one is explaining this notion that even blocking out 1/4″ of the state name would mean it’s “obscured.” That has no basis in the statute, so where is this coming from?
January 7th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Arizona Drivers Against Stupid License Plate Frame Laws.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=57250171342
January 7th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Bruce,
Thanks for finding the entire statute and link. I think the sideways mount on the motorcycles is one of those that falls under “interpretation”.
43Quid,
It looks like the law might even be repealed in the upcoming session. It is too general and open to interpretation. I think the biggest complaint I have with the law is the making it a priority offense which mean you can be pulled over for it. Second, the size of the fine is exorbitant. I have seen a lot of plate covers disappear in the past week. So far I haven’t seen anyone pulled over with the plate partially covered.
One thing for sure, it has generated a lot of talk and unfortunately a lot of ill will between citizens and the state of Arizona.
April 10th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
This is yet another move towards a police state; a far cry from a (((socialist))) state as some misguided folks here have stated. The cracked windshield and now this law only target those who may be impoverished. This amounts to poverty profiling. While this change in ARS *may* fill the coffers a tad the far greater concern is the misuse of law enforcement power.
May 9th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
My license plate frame reads “united states coast guard, and the state name is obscured by “unites states”.
will the law also apply to people who have wheel chair/scooter hardware that obscures the state name. Also the “smokey plastic” covers that obscures the entire plate? And trailer and ball hitches and bicycle mounts???
May 9th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
John,
The law already took effect. The state name is not to be obscured by a plate frame. Other hardware or even pulling a trailer behind which blocks the view is not considered a plate frame. But the law is being revisited. And I don’t think it is being enforced unless you are stopped for another offense. But the way the law is written they can stop you for having any part of the state name covered over by a plate frame, even if it is just by 1/8th of an inch.
I still see a few AZ plates with frames covering the state name, but most have removed the frames or stopped back to their dealerships for a frame that is in compliance.