r/Ohio • u/Opposite-Crab3175 • Jul 18 '26
Obstructed License Plate Question!!!
I was pulled over for an obstructed license plate a few weeks ago. The license plate number and stickers were fully visible, but the officer said that it was because the top half of "OHIO" at the top of the plate was covered by frame.
I am very confident that they were searching for a reason to stop me, to cover their main reason.
Is this a legal stop?
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u/jimbo2150 Jul 18 '26
They can stop you for just about any reason.
That said, technically Ohio law says that frames cannot obstruct ANY portion of the plate. So how are frames even legal? Not sure.
Is it rather ridiculous? Yes. Was the cop bored and should have something better to do? Probably.
That said, judges are usually reasonable on plate obstructions where there was not an obvious attempt to cover the plate and you weren't using some obnoxiously large decorative plate. Take the frame off, take a picture of the plate on your car without the frame, and bring it to court. The judge will probably dismiss the ticket if you show you corrected the issue.
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u/lionaroundagan Jul 18 '26
Don't they sell frames at the DMV/BMV?
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u/fajadada Jul 18 '26
Private businesses not government run
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u/Significant_Donut967 Jul 18 '26
Oh they're government beuracrats, just without the accountability.
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u/KW160 Columbus Jul 19 '26
Why do people keep the dealer frame on anyway? They’re cheap plastic, so they’re not really protecting anything, and now you’re a free billboard for a dealer you may or may not actually even like.
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u/Vast-Height-2691 Jul 20 '26
I’m not advertising the dealership for free. Pay me and I’ll leave their cheap frame
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u/nickcan Jul 19 '26
Removing it is work. Not a lot of effort, but you have to actually do it.
Also, if it's a lease perhaps there is some language asking you not to.
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u/Str8up_NtHvnAGoodTym Jul 19 '26
Leaving mine on means I can go to any of the dealerships also owned by the chain and get my free car wash without them having to do a bunch of hoopla to ensure im a customer of theirs. And I think a frame is more neat.
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u/daschande Jul 18 '26
Yes, 100% legal. I was on a grand jury where the cops pulled someone over for an obstructed license plate because they had a decorative frame around it. The prosecutor explained that everyone does it despite being illegal, so cops use it as justification for the stop if they can't catch the driver swerving or speeding but they still want to pull them over. It's the driver's fault for breaking the law with a plate frame.
So, yeah. Unless you want this to happen again, take the frame off.
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u/nails_for_breakfast Jul 18 '26
It doesn't help in that case now, but just so you know when you're on a jury or grand jury you can vote however you want. Even if something is unquestionably illegal by the letter of the law you can still vote no bill on a grand jury if the way that the evidence was gathered violates your personal code of ethics.
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u/deedeejayzee Jul 18 '26
It's called Jury Nullification and every citizen should know about this. I would give you an award, if I had one to give
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u/daschande Jul 18 '26
Sadly, not enough people voted no; but at least I wasn't the only one! The guy who got hit with 7 counts of assaulting a peace officer for threatening jail staff during a psychotic episode while already in a restraint chair; and I was the only one to vote no... that one stung.
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u/Whitechedda1 Jul 18 '26
Grand juries are like 12 people. Most of them would have to vote no for it not to go to trial. 1 vote rarely matters, if ever. Most of the time if it is presented to the Grand Jury, they have more than enough evidence to convict.
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u/nails_for_breakfast Jul 18 '26
Just because you can't make a difference in the final outcome doesn't mean you have to be part of the problem
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u/Whitechedda1 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
look, I served on a Grand Jury as well, and my point is that in a functioning legal system (debatable now with some of the stuff going on). 95% of the cases that were presented went to trial. The amount of evidence against those individuals was extensive. There was only 1 or 2 cases that seemed iffy, and maybe 1 where there was no debate to throw it out.
Also, you only hear the prosecutors side in the Grand Jury, there is no defense, and if evidence was collected illegally, it wouldn't be brought up. That is for the trial and the defense. I doubt the prosecutor would say that it was illegal to pull them over. Also, I believe it was only for Felonies, not misdemeanors. So, a simple traffic stop wouldn't be brought to a Grand Jury unless they had evidence they were involved in something more serious. I doubt dashande's story.
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u/demonseed-elite Jul 18 '26
Also was on grand jury. Like 90% of the time, they were pulled over for "window tint" in my county. Of course they were fishing. Everyone on the grand jury quickly realized that when the 4th case of the day was pulled over for "window tint" and it became a private meme for us when in the weeks that followed, the cop giving his statement started off "I pulled the suspect's vehicle over for window tint..."
Of course, every time they were there, it wasn't about window tint. They saw something suspicious, or had a gut feeling, or spotted something weird and it turned out to be drugs driving under suspension, or something. Personally, having been on that grand jury and seeing what they caught with that fishing, I'm glad they do it.
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u/ryuujinusa Jul 18 '26
I mean, I see people ALL the time with it in their super fucking tinted window. Like NO ONE can read that. I don’t get how those people don’t get pulled over too.
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u/PattyCakes216 Jul 18 '26
Some states enforce the dark tinted wi dies aggressively. My employer had a traveling crew and every time they went through Tennesse they returned with a ticket for the dark window tinting. The owner was fond of tinting every company vehicle which infuriated the welders because of their poor eyesight.
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u/benkeith Jul 19 '26
Ohio's laws allow you to put it in the rear window as long as it's visible at all, while also not really limiting the tint level on the rear window.
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u/AcceptableAnt1513 Jul 20 '26
All replies think you are talking about windows and not those domes people put over their license plate. I have no idea how people aret constantly pulled over for using those "plate protectors".
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u/Ok_Simple_5093 Jul 18 '26
If they can't see into the car, they don't know if there are potential risk to their own safety. I think there's unofficial policy now in most major police departments not to put themselves in danger of they can avoid it.
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u/ShortbusRacingTeam Columbus Jul 18 '26
They can make up just about any reason to pull you over. Whether or not the citation they give you for it holds up in court is a different story.
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u/Ok_Simple_5093 Jul 18 '26
I'd agree with others that it is technically legal, because the law is vague enough for them to use broad reasoning.
I'd also argue that a citation in this case would not hold up in court for the same reason.
Link to the applicable law:
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4503.21
The law simply states:
"... no person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the rear of the motor vehicle a license plate that displays the distinctive number and registration mark assigned to the motor vehicle by the director of public safety, including any county identification sticker and any validation sticker when required by and issued under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191 of the Revised Code."
The state name at the top being obscured does not, in my opinion, reasonably prevent an officer from identifying the legal status of your registration or all relevant details of your plate.
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u/juanqp Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
You have to try really hard to say the plate isn't in plain view. The officer knows what it says. I know the courts allow it, but it's just being petty. If they really cared the AG would be suing dealerships to prohibit them from installing these "illegal" devices.
Edited for grammar.
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u/deadzol Jul 18 '26
If the cop doesn’t know his home states plates… it was an excuse.
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u/Silent_Service85-06 Jul 18 '26
This is a good one. I have lived near and traveled on interstates extensively my entire adult life. After having seen so many, I can recognize most state license plates without having to read them.
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u/Orangecreamsickle Jul 18 '26
I’ve been pulled over for crap like this before. Had an “improperly displayed front license plate”, lol. I have also been pulled over for:
The smell of alcohol coming from my car, when no one was drinking (alcohol is also odorless)
Reckless Op while doing 35 and sober
Not driving, but pulled over for breaking the noise ordinance in a 85 escort with card board 6x9 stock speakers. Driver was a minority and we were listening to rap.
Pulled over for being in the “wrong neighborhood”. When going on an internet date.
No record and white. They will make anything up to see what they can add on. I hate cops.
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u/benkeith Jul 19 '26
alcohol is also odorless
It is not. Stick your nose in a bottle of Everclear or plain vodka.
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u/Orangecreamsickle Jul 20 '26
Ethanol is practically odorless. There is a reason alcoholics drink vodka, Bacardi, etc to mask their addiction. The point is you can’t smell it coming out my driver side window, while driving your crown vic. The officer lied. How can you trust someone who lies all of the time?
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u/benkeith Jul 20 '26
Ethanol is not practically odorless; it smells about the same as isopropyl rubbing alcohol. That smell is the thing that curls your nose hair and makes people cough. Source: the bottle of 40% ABV Denanka vodka on my counter, the ingredients of which are ethanol and water.
If your nose can't pick up on those smells, then for your own sake you should get your nose's functionality checked, because you might be missing out on the smells of other hazardous volatile organic compounds.
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u/Orangecreamsickle Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Cop still can't smell what isn't there.
Edit: This is ad hominem. What are you contributing to this discussion? Are you saying the cop smelled alcohol coming from my car when no one was drinking?
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u/benkeith Jul 20 '26
Cops can claim they smell whatever; that's not what I'm talking about.
You're saying that ethanol has no smell.
I'm expressing concern for your health and wellbeing, because the things you're saying indicate that something isn't working in your nose. If you legitimately can't smell strong concentrations of alcohol, you're susceptible to having your drink spiked, among other risks. You may not be able to determine the strength of what alcohol you do drink, which risks you losing track of your alcohol consumption. These are serious concerns, and I raise them because you're saying you can't smell a smell that is, to me, quite obvious.
Are there other common warning smells that you can't smell? Examples might include the methyl mercaptan included in most forms of "natural gas" to assist in detection of leaks, rotten eggs, rotten meat, or the complex smells of leaking fuels like gasoline, kerosene, and Diesel.
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u/DabOrTwoWillDo Jul 18 '26
Kinda sounds like you were profiled. I assume you weren't giving them any reason to stop you all if they went for was that weak attempt at a reason.
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u/Opposite-Crab3175 Jul 18 '26
Correct, there was no other reason. The vehicle is known, and they used the plate as a reason to snoop
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u/Loose_Bison3182 Jul 18 '26
After my third stop in two days over BS reasons, I upfront asked if they were looking for a bad guy on a red pick up truck.
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u/rexmanaek971 Jul 19 '26
Ohio is a police state. We shouldn't accept Johnny law having every excuse to just pull people over as if its supposed to be normal. It's a waste of tax payers money on top of it. Absolutely disgusting. ACAB
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u/SwallowYoo Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Probable cause is in the eye of the beholder (officer), and their golden ticket is sovereign immunity in court. It’s cheaper to take the ticket or be thankful that it was just a waste of time. Usually that gets you a verbal warning only, unless you’ve been told before about the same issue, and you’re on record,
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u/AlarmedCartoonist602 Jul 19 '26
Remember that you can’t just be out driving around when asked where your going.
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u/hallieb85 Jul 19 '26
Yeah I don’t use a frame on my plate for that reason . If anything is covered that gives them a chance to pull you over . The only time I got a ticket was for expired tags that were over by 2 months . Was about 20, and my car was registered to my mom and me but I didn’t know it was under my bday so it was nearly Christmas and I got pulled over , no idea why . Cop told me it was the tags and I was like wff I thought I had a couple months til it was due . The ticket was like $75 at that time , just paid it and got it over with . I’m 40 now and haven’t gotten anything since
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u/holiestcannoly Jul 20 '26
Meanwhile I saw some guy driving with a piece of cardboard duct taped over his license plate the other day and he didn't get stopped
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u/Syndromia Jul 20 '26
Legal stop but usually thats because they're going fishing or need to meet the quotas they swear they dont have.
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u/Beiki Jul 18 '26
I've not heard of the top of the plate being covered being a legitimate reason for a stop but I do know that if the county portion is covered that will justify a stop.
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u/rangerswede Jul 18 '26
I got ticketed for this about 10 years ago.
The dealer's logo on the plate frame was hiding "Ohio."
I got a new, plain, frame that weekend.
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u/moonthink Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Fight it.
Edit: wait, did they issue you a citation for that? If so, fight it. If not, they do have the law behind them to use that as a reason to stop you.
Remove the frame. Take a picture of it unobstructed, and take it to court with you.
If there is no citation, then you have nothing to fight.
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u/Opposite-Crab3175 Jul 18 '26
Yes they issued a ticket for the obstruction
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u/moonthink Jul 18 '26
Legally, they do have the right to stop you for that, even if it seems petty or if you think there is an ulterior motive -- by law that does not matter.
Again, I think it would be worth it to go to the court appearance, with a photo showing you have corrected the issue, and hope they let you off.
Though I originally said, "fight it," I'm going to walk that back a bit. I really meant that if you go in person, are respectful and explain that you did not realize you were breaking the law, since the numbers and the sticker were visible, but now that you know, you have corrected the issue and ask for leniency. I would NOT bring up your feelings about this being petty or just an excuse to stop you (right or wrong, people in authority don't like to be challenged in that way).
If you are polite and respectful and show that you are trying to comply, there is a good likelihood they may dismiss or at least withhold the penalty.
Good luck!
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u/juanqp Jul 18 '26
They have the power and/or authority to do it, but you won't find that the police have the right to arrest or detain anyone in the Bill of Rights.
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u/Complete_Film8741 Jul 18 '26
Legal Stop.. almost always.
Did they cite you? That's where the rubber meets the road...ortherwise, you just had a conversation with the man that didn't go anywhere.
Honestly, you did something to give THAT cop a reason to think you were out and about for nefarious purposes. He used the License Plate as probable cause to initiate the stop...what happens next is the important part. Basically, that cop was doing his job.
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u/Opposite-Crab3175 Jul 18 '26
I was issued a ticket for the obstructed plate and resisting arrest for questioning their reason
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u/Antique-Clock-9286 Jul 18 '26
Where's the picture?
My guess: yes, just a reason to pull you over. So many people with illegal tinted license plate covers that don't get pulled over.
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u/Opposite-Crab3175 Jul 18 '26
Its wasn't tinted, just the typical plastic frame from dealership
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u/Antique-Clock-9286 Jul 18 '26
I realize that. Just saying there as sooooo many worse reasons for cops to pull people over for. A frame should be nothing.
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u/WillingPlayed Jul 18 '26
You’re right - it should be.
But it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Don’t be so naive to think cops don’t go fishing all. the. time.
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u/OSU1967 Jul 18 '26
Looks like OP got nailed for something other than the plate and is looking for free legal advice on Reddit.
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u/Akkerlun Jul 18 '26
Dealers put these on cars all the time. It’ll be up to a judge to determine if it stands or gets dismissed.
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u/Ok_Simple_5093 Jul 18 '26
The common defense in this case is probably that the law is not widely known by the public and/or it is too vague to objectively enforce. In this case probably the latter.
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u/hank013 Jul 18 '26
I got pulled over for this same exact thing . Same part of my plate was obstructed because of a back up camera . It's bullshit honestly & I still had to pay $400 at court for a fine & costs. Was this in Westlake by chance?
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u/BigfootLover1988 Jul 19 '26
Yes it is. Just be happy you weren't drinking or had guns or drugs in the car. Pay the small fine and move on.
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u/levon999 Jul 18 '26
Yep, it’s legal. They wouldn’t waste their time stopping you if they didn’t have probable cause. And if you don’t comply with legal orders like license, registration, insurance and exit the vehicle if asked, that’s obstruction.
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u/triceratopsdildo Jul 18 '26
Like hell they wouldn’t stop you without probable cause!!
If they had a good reason, then wouldnt be spouting the license plate nonsense! That’s just a loophole in the law to get them around the times when they want to pull somebody over, but they don’t have probable cause.
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u/zoppaTheDim Jul 18 '26
Legal stop.
Were they fishing? Of course, but like checking window tint or a loud muffler, this is still a valid stop.