Bogus Parking Ticket

[Tave]

As a parking violation, it's pretty petty. As a traffic violation, there's actually a legitimate reason behind it. I can't count the number of times I've been behind an out of state license plate with a frame around it that blocks the state name. Sure, I can read the tag number, but it's useless unless I know what state the plate is from...it can't be run without that information and states have so many different specialty tags it's difficult for me to even recognize all the plates from the states around me, let alone ones from the other side of the country.

We don't know whether that's the case here.

[Minpin]

In state plain Jane tags, no stickers on my plate. The registration is tied to the actual plates, no stickers necessary.

The only thing it covered was the outer edge. It's a BS ticket, no matter what the cop-apologists try to say.

[Soup DeVille]

As a parking violation, it's pretty petty. As a traffic violation, there's actually a legitimate reason behind it. I can't count the number of times I've been behind an out of state license plate with a frame around it that blocks the state name. Sure, I can read the tag number, but it's useless unless I know what state the plate is from...it can't be run without that information and states have so many different specialty tags it's difficult for me to even recognize all the plates from the states around me, let alone ones from the other side of the country.

Years ago, the color schemes were pretty clear cut. Then, in order to try and make more money, the states started issuing all these special edition plates for a small fee. Seems like they are the ones making your job more difficult.

[bing_oh]

We don't know whether that's the case here.

Didn't say it was...obviously, I havn't seen Minpin's plates so I dunno. I was explaining the motivation behind the plate obstruction laws in general.

[bing_oh]

Years ago, the color schemes were pretty clear cut. Then, in order to try and make more money, the states started issuing all these special edition plates for a small fee. Seems like they are the ones making your job more difficult.

They are. There are probably a dozen or more valid plates for Ohio alone. You're talking about hundreds of different designs for the US. Of course, it doesn't help when people cover up the plate name with a frame of their favorite sports' team, a "witty" comment, or the name of the dealership they bought it from.

[bing_oh]

It's all about money. And they won't be getting mine. They will get my time and ire, however. It's still not even clear I broke the law. If true how does every car dealership in IL escape the liability of their frames?

There's a good chance they're be getting your time, your ire, and your money, actually. And, once the car is yours and you drive it off the lot, it's your responsibility, not that of the dealership.

[giant_mtb]

First things I took off my car?  The dealership plate frame and crappy, will-be-rust-in-a-year Fox badge.

[TurboDan]

The dealership frame lasted about a week or so on the LR2 before I took 'er off. Mainly because the dealership was on the other side of the state. Where I live, there's the risk that you'll be pulled over because you're not a "local" if you stick out at all.

[rohan]

In state plain Jane tags, no stickers on my plate. The registration is tied to the actual plates, no stickers necessary.

The only thing it covered was the outer edge. It's a BS ticket, no matter what the cop-apologists try to say.

Illinios plates have mo/year stickers. 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/fin/supp_info/revenue/new_resident_parkinginformation.html

"Q: - What are the requirements for license plates in Illinois?
A: - State law requires license plates in Illinois be affixed to both the front and rear of passenger vehicles. Other types of vehicles can be subject to this requirement as well. The Illinois Secretary of State requires purchase of annual license plate renewal stickers that must be affixed to the rear license plate as proof of current registration. Vehicles that do not display current license plate registration stickers are subject to a $50.00 ticket. Visit the Illinois Secretary of State's website for more information."

Maybe this is where your problem starts?

[Minpin]

Illinios plates have mo/year stickers. 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/fin/supp_info/revenue/new_resident_parkinginformation.html

"Q: - What are the requirements for license plates in Illinois?
A: - State law requires license plates in Illinois be affixed to both the front and rear of passenger vehicles. Other types of vehicles can be subject to this requirement as well. The Illinois Secretary of State requires purchase of annual license plate renewal stickers that must be affixed to the rear license plate as proof of current registration. Vehicles that do not display current license plate registration stickers are subject to a $50.00 ticket. Visit the Illinois Secretary of State's website for more information."

Maybe this is where your problem starts?

Fleet vehicle.

[giant_mtb]

Maybe they didn't recognize it as a fleet vehicle because of the college alumni frame.

...'cause why would that be on a fleet vehicle...

[Raza]

My plate all but fell off, so I was going to take that as an opportunity to take off the frame.  However, when putting the plate back on, as a matter of not thinking or whatever, I put the frame back on.  And I used Loctite on the screws.  I might just cut the frame off. 

[giant_mtb]

Loctite...isn't necessarily permanent...which color did you use?  Put some muscle into it, man.

[bing_oh]

Loctite...isn't necessarily permanent...which color did you use?  Put some muscle into it, man.

We're talking about Raza, here. He'll have to have his butler do it for him.

[Raza]

Loctite...isn't necessarily permanent...which color did you use?  Put some muscle into it, man.

Blue.

I know it's not permanent, I don't don't want to deal with doing it again.  I don't remember where I put the Loctite tube now. 

[giant_mtb]

Cause cutting the frame is less of a hassle than buying a new $3 bottle of Loctite and undoing a couple screws?

[Tave]

Didn't say it was...obviously, I havn't seen Minpin's plates so I dunno. I was explaining the motivation behind the plate obstruction laws in general.

I think everyone understands why we have a law against covering up information on your license plate.

[Raza]

Cause cutting the frame is less of a hassle than buying a new $3 bottle of Loctite and undoing a couple screws?

It's a cheap plastic frame.  Yeah, I think it's easier!  I can do it with my multitool, probably. 

[giant_mtb]

I bet your multi-tool has a fuggin' screwdriver on it, too.................

Please mind your paint!

[CALL_911]

The dealership frame lasted about a week or so on the LR2 before I took 'er off. Mainly because the dealership was on the other side of the state. Where I live, there's the risk that you'll be pulled over because you're not a "local" if you stick out at all.

Ha, I was visiting my buddy in Deal last summer. His dad warned me to stick to speed limits, as I would apparently be a bigger target thanks to my NY plates.

[MX793]

Cause cutting the frame is less of a hassle than buying a new $3 bottle of Loctite and undoing a couple screws?

Generally, there's enough loctite residue on the threads that there's still some locking effect if you remove the screws and then reassembly them (or adjust the torque on them after the loctite has cured).

[Soup DeVille]

Blue.

I know it's not permanent, I don't don't want to deal with doing it again.  I don't remember where I put the Loctite tube now. 

Should use pink for stuff like that.

[J86]

You should hire a lawyer to fight it. 

Best advice in this thread

[J86]

frame of their favorite sports' team,

In lawl school I had a New England Patriots frame on the back of my grandpa cruiser (mercury sable wagon).  I was not in New England.  Woke up one morning and someone had ripped the back plate off my car... I'm half assuming it was to commit a heinous crime, but the other half thinks it was 'cause I had a Pats frame on there.  That learned me!

[Raza]

In lawl school I had a New England Patriots frame on the back of my grandpa cruiser (mercury sable wagon).  I was not in New England.  Woke up one morning and someone had ripped the back plate off my car... I'm half assuming it was to commit a heinous crime, but the other half thinks it was 'cause I had a Pats frame on there.  That learned me!

I don't use my car as a billboard for my beliefs, likes, or dislikes any more than I'd walk up to random people and shout at them that there is no god or that Liverpool will make the Champions League this year.  You'll never see me with a YNWA sticker on my car or anything else like that. 

[rohan]

Fleet vehicle.

So what do we know about this statement?
~It can only belong to UPS, People Energy and Gas, Nicore (sp?), Commonwealth Edison, Ameren Illinios, Comcast or AT&T since Coca Cola and DHL has fazed all or nearly all of them out.   Possibly EAN Enterprise, but they have also phazed most if not all of theirs out as well.
~All fleet plates start with FP and then the numbers with no spaces.
~ILC 5/3-405.3  & ILC5/3-814.4 pretty well narrow down the rules on it.
~Fleet plates may only be purchased by companies with more than 500 vehicles.

Knowing that if you're being honest about it being fleet plate we've narrowed it down where you work.    We also know that the issuing officer would know immediately from the characters on the plate it was a non-sticker requiring plate.  We can assume they must have met you at some point and just don't like you, which is a very realistic and fair assessment, found out where you parked somehow and wrote you a ticket.

Riddle solved.

[rohan]

I think everyone understands why we have a law against covering up information on your license plate.

And yet officers hear nearly daily "I didnt know that was illegal.".

[GoCougs]

I think everyone understands why we have a law against covering up information on your license plate.

So LEO can let their auto plate readers freely add you to their database which in turn is aggregated with that of others. Fun times in the age of Big Data.

Bless those that hide their plates and get away with it.

[giant_mtb]

I'm glad I live in a place where that shit always gets here either 10 years later or never at all. I mean, we don't even have a single traffic camera. Anywhere. It's great. At least not one meant for prosecution/handing out tickets.

[CJ]

So what do we know about this statement?
~It can only belong to UPS, People Energy and Gas, Nicore (sp?), Commonwealth Edison, Ameren Illinios, Comcast or AT&T since Coca Cola and DHL has fazed all or nearly all of them out.   Possibly EAN Enterprise, but they have also phazed most if not all of theirs out as well.
~All fleet plates start with FP and then the numbers with no spaces.
~ILC 5/3-405.3  & ILC5/3-814.4 pretty well narrow down the rules on it.
~Fleet plates may only be purchased by companies with more than 500 vehicles.

Knowing that if you're being honest about it being fleet plate we've narrowed it down where you work.    We also know that the issuing officer would know immediately from the characters on the plate it was a non-sticker requiring plate.  We can assume they must have met you at some point and just don't like you, which is a very realistic and fair assessment, found out where you parked somehow and wrote you a ticket.

Riddle solved.

Do you have any friends? Or know anyone? Do you live in some alternate world where this sort of thing is okay?


Colby has a fleet plate. It is none of your business where he works. You do not need to know anything else.