# liscence plate question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289 "2006-02-20T05:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/1 "2006-02-20T05:06:34Z")
recently while being pulled over for a burnt out headlight in the popemobile i was told that i could have gotten a ticket for only having my license plate held on with one screw. i really want to call bullshit on this one as it doesnt sound quite kosher anyone know where i might find the ACTUAL statutes regarding my license plates? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/2 "2006-02-20T05:11:06Z")
What state/province/fiefdom? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/3 "2006-02-20T05:15:25Z")
I have to agree there. Driving regulations are by state. We have to know which you are talking about to give you an answer. Even then, it may not be a definitive answer. The law may read “License plates must be attached securely to the vehicle.” Your definition of “securely” and the police officer’s may differ. Thousands of dollars in lawyer’s fees would be required to get the courts to define a good answer. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/4 "2006-02-20T05:18:32Z")
Even if the law were against you, this should only be a fixit ticket. My advice even though IANAL, buy a second screw. ---
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/5 "2006-02-20T05:28:57Z")
oooh shoot i thought i said which state… tennessee… sorry missus the pope distracted me. no ticket i just want to be prepared if officer numnuts tries this again. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/6 "2006-02-20T05:43:03Z")
I had a cop stop me about a year ago, his excuse was that my trailer ball was blocking the plate. It was just a ruse to justify pulling me over, the ball is still there. If I were you I’d put another screw or two in the plate and forget about it. I understand principle, but this isn’t worth the stomach acid you’re wasting on it. ---
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/7 "2006-02-20T05:49:40Z")
nah no acid lost really… cops pull crap on me ALL the time i just wanted to know for myself ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/8 "2006-02-20T05:52:58Z")
I think this part of the Tennessee statutes covers this issue (I bolded what I think is the relevant part): > [@](#): > > 55-4-110. Display of registration plates - Manner - Penalty for violation. > (a) The registration plate issued for passenger motor vehicles shall be attached on the rear of the vehicle. The registration plate issued for those trucks with a manufacturer’s ton rating not exceeding three-quarter (3/4) ton and having a panel or pickup body style, and also those issued for all motor homes, regardless of ton rating or body style thereof, shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The registration plate issued for all other trucks and truck tractors shall be attached to the front of the vehicle. All dealers’ plates, as provided in § 55-4-221, and those registration plates issued for motorcycles, trailers or semitrailers shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. > > (b) **Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so to prevent the plate from swinging** and at a height of not less than twelve inches (12") from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible. No tinted materials may be placed over a license plate even if the information upon such license plate is not concealed. ---
**Author:** ![ombre3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@ombre3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre3)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/9 "2006-02-20T05:59:46Z")
I drive for auto auctions anymore. One of the things we have to do is to pick up cars from dealerships and drive them to the auction. Displaying tags (even dealer tags) is problematic. Sometimes there are no screws to attach the dealer tag to. Some of us carry screws in our pocket just for that purpose. Some of us stick the plate inside the rear window as best we can. Sometimes the rear window is so darkened that you can’t read the tag that way. Many of us just say to hell with the whole thing and throw the dealer tag on the dashboard-------and hope for the best. I have come close to getting a ticket for not properly displaying a tag. I never personally actually got a ticket for that. Some drivers have gotten warnings. I have gotten yelled at by cops through my open window-----to “display that tag properly right this minute or I am pulling you over.” Which I did to the best of my ability with whatever resources I could think of. Final analysis------cops get bored and have nothing better to do sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/10 "2006-02-20T13:37:10Z")
An anecdotal account, in New York you have to have front and rear plates. Years ago a poor college student friend was driving a beat up Thunderbird. At some point the front bumper had come off. He attached the plate to the grill with a couple of plastic zip ties. A cop gave him grief over it saying it needed to be secured with metal fasteners. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liscence-plate-question/345289/11 "2006-02-20T14:21:23Z")
> [@Mr. Goob](#): > > At some point the front bumper had come off. He attached the plate to the grill with a couple of plastic zip ties. A cop gave him grief over it saying it needed to be secured with metal fasteners. Wow, around here he’d get grief for not having a legally-required front bumper.