Traffic ticket for bike rack

Smith

Smith

Member
Hi All,

Last week on the turnpike I was pulled over by a police officer in an unmarked car. I was driving in the left lane, and a car came up behind me quickly and got close enough that I could not see the front bumper of the vehicle, there was a fair bit of traffic and I didn't change lanes for a couple of miles. Admittedly, this was in part because I though the driver behind me was being a dick. After being tailgated for a couple of miles, I saw the lights come on, and I pulled over. I was given a ticket for "unclear plates", the officer said that I couldn't have my trailer hitch bike rack on my car because it "made it difficult to run my plates". I just have a standard, two bike, Thule rack; there weren't bikes on it at the time. I figured in retrospect, had I changed lanes right away, he would have most likely gone on his merry way, and I would not have gotten the ticket; lesson learned.

But I wanted to ask: has anyone else had this happen to them? Is it worth going to traffic court to argue this $54 ticket?

Thanks.
 
Nope. $54.00 is cheap. What's 4 hrs of your time worth sitting in a court room ? Sometimes it's easier to let a tailgating douche bag ( with all due respect to our uniformed forum members) have the right of way, than to play their games.
 
Smith said:
Hi All,

Last week on the turnpike I was pulled over by a police officer in an unmarked car. I was driving in the left lane, and a car came up behind me quickly and got close enough that I could not see the front bumper of the vehicle, there was a fair bit of traffic and I didn't change lanes for a couple of miles. Admittedly, this was in part because I though the driver behind me was being a dick. After being tailgated for a couple of miles, I saw the lights come on, and I pulled over. I was given a ticket for "unclear plates", the officer said that I couldn't have my trailer hitch bike rack on my car because it "made it difficult to run my plates". I just have a standard, two bike, Thule rack; there weren't bikes on it at the time. I figured in retrospect, had I changed lanes right away, he would have most likely gone on his merry way, and I would not have gotten the ticket; lesson learned.

But I wanted to ask: has anyone else had this happen to them? Is it worth going to traffic court to argue this $54 ticket?

Thanks.
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I think it's a valid charge, but it's shady that he followed you for a while first -- sounds like he wanted you to get out of his way and when you didn't, he popped you for whatever he could. That's just how it seems because he followed you for a while first. ANymore, if someone rolls up on you, just get out of there way and let them go by. I had a hitch rack for a long time here in PA and never got pulled over for it, but my wife's uncle was chief of police in a town near here and he told me once that I could legitimately get a ticket because it was blocking the license plate.
 
That's pretty much what I figured. I've never gone in to traffic court, so I didn't know how long it would take. Like I said, lesson learned, I'll just move over next time...
 
I know I'm living in lala land, but I'm cool with cops flying down the turnpike way above the speed limit...if they put their lights on.
 
This is interesting. I have friends that have made a plastic plate and mounted it to the rack. I wonder if the uniformed folk here can jump in as to whether that would be an accepted practice or not.
 
Smith said:
Hi All,

Last week on the turnpike I was pulled over by a police officer in an unmarked car. I was driving in the left lane, and a car came up behind me quickly and got close enough that I could not see the front bumper of the vehicle, there was a fair bit of traffic and I didn't change lanes for a couple of miles. Admittedly, this was in part because I though the driver behind me was being a dick. After being tailgated for a couple of miles, I saw the lights come on, and I pulled over. I was given a ticket for "unclear plates", the officer said that I couldn't have my trailer hitch bike rack on my car because it "made it difficult to run my plates". I just have a standard, two bike, Thule rack; there weren't bikes on it at the time. I figured in retrospect, had I changed lanes right away, he would have most likely gone on his merry way, and I would not have gotten the ticket; lesson learned.

But I wanted to ask: has anyone else had this happen to them? Is it worth going to traffic court to argue this $54 ticket?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Either way...It would be best to go to court. 2 things can happen. 1st: He may have been having a bad day and your were a target..and maybe he will see you came to court and made the effort and will drop the ticket. 2nd: You go to court and he will pleade the ticket and you pay a lighter fine.

I know when you get a ticket..they usually hit you with a few different violations..so when you do come to court..they can drop one or two to make you feel good about only getting one. I'm not a expert..but I know this is a common practice...good luck.
 
gt2brew- I've seen plate holders for racks that support bikes by their wheels, but not for ones from which the bikes hang. Depending on where you placed the plate, it could be visible on the rack without bikes, but then obstructed by them.

One problem is you can't get a third plate to leave permanently on your rack. Truth be told, my plate is readable from behind (if you are a car length back, or off to the side by the slightest).
 
Getting a ticket for a hitch rack hiding plates is a fairly common problem. Kirt has a hitch rack and got another license plate to display above his hitch.

as you realize you should not hold people up in the left lane, especially on the turnpike. no matter how fast your going if someone wants to go faster get out of the way. Here are some guildelines for the roads i know.

Turnpike- left lane 85+; middle lanes 75+, right lane 65+

GSP- left lane 70+; middle lanes 65, right lane 55
 
Sean, that is a bummer. I think Jim Vreeland from High Gear got pulled over recently for the same issue.

I have the same rack on my car, but have never been pulled over for it.

I am not about to change anything b/c the way I look at it, it is an opportunity for the officer to let me off the hook for another offense, like speeding with a minor slap on the wrist. This happened to me previously with a license plate frame that obstructed the words "Garden State".

Get out of the left lane next time!!! 😀
 
Just narrowly avoided this issue this past Sunday...on my way to a kids wrestling tournament early in the morning...got pulled over for 51 in a 40, and for some reason my license wasn't in my wallet...officer said he would not have pulled me over except for the fact that my Kuat rack was blocking my plate so he couldn't run it.

He was a nice guy and let me slide (after taking all my pba type cards away)

I am going to rig something so I can move my license plate to a better spot not blocked by the rack and will lower it like a bike is on it from now on for longer trips.

R
 
Rusty said:
Just narrowly avoided this issue this past Sunday...on my way to a kids wrestling tournament early in the morning...got pulled over for 51 in a 40, and for some reason my license wasn't in my wallet...officer said he would not have pulled me over except for the fact that my Kuat rack was blocking my plate so he couldn't run it.

He was a nice guy and let me slide (after taking all my pba type cards away)

I am going to rig something so I can move my license plate to a better spot not blocked by the rack and will lower it like a bike is on it from now on for longer trips.

R
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Another way to look at this though is he could have given you a ticket for going 11 over the limit, or he could have let you go with just an obstructed plate.
 
Smith said:
One problem is you can't get a third plate to leave permanently on your rack.
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Actually, there is a way to get a third plate. I know someone who has done it.

pooriggy said:
Kirt has a hitch rack and got another license plate to display above his hitch.
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Yeah, Kirt is the guy I'm referring to. He puts the third plate in his back window.
I'll let him elaborate on how he got the extra plate.
 
Here is the statute. You can see there are quite a few issues that can arise with a bike rack. Kirt has a third plate in the rear window, which is still technically illegal but at least allows the cops to run the plate during the day.

http://www.njlawman.com/new-jersey-traffic-laws/unclear-fictitious-plates-39-3-33.htm

You CAN get a third plate if you want. Go to the DMV and get a "request for remanufacture of plates" application. It's like $15 and the DMV will send you two new plates with the same characters that are currently on the vehicle. But if you mount it on the rack, it technically has to be illuminated at night, so...

As for court appearance...I think ryderX has it right. If your time is worth more than $10 an hour, just pay it and move on. It's a minor offense with no points, and there is no other statute the prosecutor could plead it down to. And if the trooper doesn't show up, he's likely to adjourn the case once (or more) to allow the trooper a chance to defend the ticket in court before outright dismissal. Not worth the effort IMO.
 
BonsaiMTB said:
Either way...It would be best to go to court. 2 things can happen. 1st: He may have been having a bad day and your were a target..and maybe he will see you came to court and made the effort and will drop the ticket. 2nd: You go to court and he will pleade the ticket and you pay a lighter fine.

I know when you get a ticket..they usually hit you with a few different violations..so when you do come to court..they can drop one or two to make you feel good about only getting one. I'm not a expert..but I know this is a common practice...good luck.
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I spent enough time in traffic court in my younger days to say that this is generally pretty sound advice...if you do get hit with multiple violations or even a single violation with points associated. Generally just by showing up they will drop some points or change the violations in your favor.

In this case however, it would be a complete waste and you'd actually likely lose out. There really is nothing for them to drop the ticket down to, and chances are they won't dismiss it. If you get hit with a court fee for showing up, not only do you lose time, you're now out even more money. For something like this or a tint ticket, you're much better off just paying the fine and moving on.
 
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Thanks for everyone's feedback. I think it's worth $54 every 3+ years to not have to constantly take-off/put-on the rack; plus it sounds like it's good to have something that lets the police officer give you "an out" if you initially get pulled over for something else.
 
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Smith said:
Thanks for everyone's feedback. I think it's worth $54 every 3+ years to not have to constantly take-off/put-on the rack; plus it sounds like it's good to have something that lets the police officer give you "an out" if you initially get pulled over for something else.
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A very good way to look the situation.
 
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