Obstructed License Plate in NYS? Know Before You Get Pulled Over

New York State has many laws that you might not agree with. Don't like the fact that you have to drive your car with a front license plate on it? Even though there are other states that only require one, New York says you must have two.

Want to have your windows tinted darker? Well, New York State has something to say about that as well. If you get pulled over for 'an Obstructed License Plate' what does that mean? Will you be getting a ticket?

What constitutes an Obstructed License Plate in New York State?

dmv.ny.gov

An Obstructed License Plate is one that has been manipulated in a way that keeps the letters and numbers from being seen clearly. This includes but is not limited to, putting dirt on the plate, peeling the paint off the plate, or covering the plate with a clear plate covering. All of these things are considered to be an obstruction.

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Why does it matter if you have an obstructed New York license plate?

NY.Gov

There are a few reasons that a person might want to obstruct their license plate, two of which are the most common. The first one? To keep from having their plate read when going through the cashless tolls. If you don't have a readable plate on your car, you can't be charged a toll, right?

Ten New York State License Plate Laws

Doing any of these ten things are a violation of the license plate rules in the state of New York and could earn you a license plate ticket and a fine.

70 Rejected New York License Plates

In 2022, New York rejected nearly 2,000 license plates. We combed through the list and here are 70 that made us shake our heads, drop our jaws, or just left us wondering why anyone would think the state would accept their request.