Dear Rachel,
How do so many vehicles seemingly bypass the requirement that rear vehicle license plates must be visible? Between bikes, bike racks, storage boxes and camping boxes, about every four vehicles seem to be violating this traffic law.
Love, Ross
Dear Ross,
I am not Rachel, this is Action Line, although The Durango Herald does have a “Dear Rachel” column. But were you trying to reach the other “Dear Rachel” column, the one in the Telegraph? From your name I’m guessing so, even though I thought you two were on a break.
OK, in fact, you sent it to the correct email address for the Herald’s “Dear Rachel” column, but the Herald forwarded it to me – I hope that’s OK. (The real Herald “Dear Rachel” column deals with human relations, whereas this column is where random geeky questions go.)
In Colorado, driving with an obscured license plate is a Class B traffic infraction that can result in a fine of $100 to $130. This includes mud, bike racks or tinted covers that obscure the plate or tags, with some violations resulting in three points on your license.
As the DoPo posted on its Facebook page (that’s my new term for “Durango Police,” I hope it catches on), “If you are wondering about the legality of those covers you see over license plates, they are not allowed by Colorado law. Typically, those covers are used to obscure the plates from being read by photo radar cameras.”
So I think you might get in trouble for those covers or other obviously intentional obfuscation, but luckily I think the DoPo is somewhat lenient on bikes, etc., or else a lot of us would end up in the clink.
But don’t count on it. I once was driving over to the Great Sand Dunes National Park with some friends to do some dune skiing (not many people do it, although with the winters we’ve been having I expect it to catch on). It was night and my license plate lights had burned out, and I got pulled over. It’s something I had never thought about, but the plate does need to be illuminated at night, as well as generally visible from behind. The CoPo (state police) officer was kind and let me off with a warning, but you never know.
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Today’s Fun Fact: “Clink” has been slang for “jail” since the times of the notorious Clink Prison in London, which operated from the 12th to 18th centuries. It is uncertain whether the name of the prison derived from, or was bestowed upon, the “Clink” area of London that it served. The name is possibly onomatopoetic, deriving from the ominous sound of striking metal as the prison doors were bolted.
