NEW YORK (PIX11) – New laws tightening rules against obscured license plates in New York City went into effect on Wednesday.
Drivers in the Big Apple can now face a $50 f i ne if found to have license plates with any obstructions.
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Obstructions include the following, according to city officials:
- Plate coverings
- Dirty plates
- License plates positioned in ways that make them difficult to read
Rules for obstructions also apply to registration stickers and VINs. The fines can also be issued for parked and otherwise unoccupied vehicles.
Here’s a breakdown of all the new rules that are now in effect:
- Your license plate must be able to be captured and read by a camera, meaning it can’t be covered with glass, plastic, other coverings or materials that distort or reflect light.
- Plates need to be securely fastened to your vehicle and readable.
- New York plates must be positioned between 12-48 inches from the ground.
- Fake or altered plates are prohibited. Plates concealed by the vehicle or its contents are prohibited.
- All vehicle covers that cover license plates, registration stickers, VIN and other information are prohibited. Covers that restrict access to an illegally parked vehicle are also prohibited.
The new rules are part of the city’s effort to get “ghost cars” – cars with fake, obscured or altered license plates – off the streets. The city has impounded over 73,000 ghost cars , according to Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez…