Solution for bike rack obscuring license plate? Expensive ticket!!!

[azfiddle]

My husband is willing to go to court if we decide to try to apply a solution. Honestly, the officer could have given us a warning like a fix-it ticket and chose not to.

It's just there isn't a super easy fix-it....

[goldfinch]

My husband is willing to go to court if we decide to try to apply a solution. Honestly, the officer could have given us a warning like a fix-it ticket and chose not to.

It's just there isn't a super easy fix-it....

Some states have changed their laws to provide exceptions for things like power chair lifts, and even in Texas, "a bicycle or motorcycle rack that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner." Time for a lobbying effort?

I am in Tucson right now, driving around with the rack on my car. And not only that, my plates show as expired as my tabs are lost in forwarding never never land.

One solution is to mount a plate on the rack, but that may violate laws that require plates to be mounted to the body of the vehicle. Maybe a plate in the window?

[Dogmama]

Was the plate totally obscured? If not, I'd put the rack on and take a picture. If not, I'd fight it anyway on the basis that the cop could have issued a warning - given the many miles you've driven.

Also (this used to be the case, not sure if it still holds) if the cop doesn't show up, you automatically win. What do you have to lose?

[Sylvia]

I would think most hitch mounted bike racks would cause this problem. I have a saris hitch mounted rack and have never been pulled over for it. But your post got me to thinking. If I just got one made like this that matched my actual plate and then hung it off the back of my rack with some wires, if this would solve the problem. I suppose it might not be technically legal but at least the plate number would be visible.

[withm]

I think I would contact Thule and describe the situation. They may have the ammunition, or DOT approvals or some such certification that you can take to court. Certainly there are hundreds of thousands (?) hitch racks out in the world, and if this were a real problem Thule, Saris, Yakima, and forums like this would know about it. Hell, Thule might even pay the ticket for you. It can't hurt to talk to them about this.

[azfiddle]

We ordered an illuminated license plate holder- not sure where we will put it. My husband is planning to go to court. Good advice on contacting Thule.

Thanks all
Sharon

[WindingRoad]

Digging up an old dead thread here but I just had this exact same thing happen to me in Indianapolis. I just took my roof rack off b/c I didn't like the noise it was creating. It's my birthday, heading down to the bike shop to get my ride tuned up and bam, got a ticket. Suck suck suck!!!