Covering or otherwise tampering with viewing of the license plate is illegal.

However, what if we replace the rear license plate with some dull crappy low light bulbs? Is this technically a loophole?

 

i took my rear license plate lighting out accadentally and i havent gotten any flak for it, and ive been tailed by cops quite a few times

 

I have been pulled over for my rear light being out (burnt bulb). I had no idea and told the cop that and he just told me to get it fixed and have a safe night.

 

CVC rules specify that they must be the proper voltage and you must have that voltage at the bulb;

24252. (a) All lighting equipment of a required type installed on a vehicle shall at all times be maintained in good working order. Lamps shall be equipped with bulbs of the correct voltage rating corresponding to the nominal voltage at the lamp socket.

(b) The voltage at any tail, stop, license plate, side marker or clearance lamp socket on a vehicle shall not be less than 85 percent of the design voltage of the bulb. Voltage tests shall be conducted with the engine operating.

(c) Two or more lamp or reflector functions may be combined, provided each function subject to requirements established by the department meets such requirements.

(1) No turn signal lamp may be combined optically with a stoplamp unless the stoplamp is extinguished when the turn signal is flashing.

(2) No clearance lamp may be combined optically with any taillamp or identification lamp.

AND it needs to be visible for 50 feet, so that is going to be your limitation;


24601. Either the taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear license plate during darkness and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. When the rear license plate is illuminated by a lamp other than a required taillamp, the two lamps shall be turned on or off only by the same control switch at all times.

 

Same thing happened to me just last month. The cop actually followed me for 5 minutes before he decided to pull me over. Cop told me that I should get the bulbs fixed so that it doesn't give cops a reason to pull me over.

 

I did that... replaced the w5w bulbs with w3w bulbs when one of the stock bulbs went out. I hardly think anyone will notice.

 

Oh... I guess it is illegal.

Hmm... I need to rig up a mug slinger that plops mud on it at the push of a button.

 

Why? Are you training to be a secret agent?

Blink once for yes

 

Yes. At the flip of a switch my license flips down and a rocket launcher comes out. ;P