Trailer Ball on Bumper on '91

"Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:14:12 -0600, "Hairy" > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:23:44 -0600, "Hairy" > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
m...
>>>>> On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:44:45 -0800, "Ulysses"
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>My wife got pulled over because I put a trailer ball in the trailer
>>>>>>ball
>>>>>>hole on the bumper of my '91 because it "obstructs the view of the
>>>>>>license
>>>>>>plate." This sounds like bull**** to me. Anyone know if it's illegal
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>put a ball where it was intended to go? Or was this cop just trying
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>pick
>>>>>>up on my wife? She didn't get a ticket.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> And if you were towing something wouldn't that obstruct the view so is
>>>>> all towing illegal?
>>>>
>>>>Only if you obstructed the view of the plate on the towed vehicle.
>>>>
>>>
>>> how do you figure? That would just create TWO obstructed plates. I
>>> see no exception in the law about obstructed plates that says you are
>>> allowed to obstruct them when towing something.
>>
>>I see nothing in the code that says that towing is illegal if the towed
>>vehicle obstructs the towing vehicle's license plate.
>>All I found was this-
>>Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a
>>horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent
>>the plate from swinging and at a height of not less than twelve inches
>>from
>>the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate, in a place and
>>position
>>to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials
>>and in a condition to be clearly legible.
>>
>> And not everything
>>> that's towed needs to have a plate. If you have a piece of
>>> construction equipment or farm equipment you generally don't need to
>>> have it titled or registered so there is no plate on it but it still
>>> obstructs your vehicle plate.
>>
>>My interpretation would be that as long as each individual vehicle is in
>>compliance, they will be in compliance when hooked together.
>>Obviously, if a hitch ball is sticking up in front of the plate, one of
>>the
>>vehicles won't be in compliance.
>>
>
> If the towed vehicle makes it impossible to see the plate then it is
> no longer "in a place and position
> to be clearly visible". Therefore you cannot tow anything unless you
> install a high rise plate holder so it's visible over the top of the
> trailer. If you disagree with that then there is no reason why you
> can't obstruct it with a hitch ball.

Bet Me...........

"Ulysses" > wrote in message
...

>
> I figured the cop was just a butthead. If a cop was to pull up behind me
> at
> the usual stopping distance he would be able to still read my license
> plate
> unless he was driving in a low-rider with lowered seats. The ball
> slightly
> obstructs the letter "G" in the middle but any idiot could figure out that
> it's the letter "G" and not a "C" or "O" or whatever.
>
> Basically I just don't want to have to try to remove the ball and
> re-install
> it every time I want to tow a small trailer. Those things can be a bitch
> to
> get off and the lock-washer will probably get mangled. I also don't want
> to
> get a ticket and that's why I asked the question in the first place. It
> thought maybe there was a new law that only applied to newer cars but I've
> seen some fairly new Explorers with the same trailer ball hole
> configuration. In California it's not possible to ask the DMV because
> they
> have a bunch of brain-dead jerks answering the phone. And that's after
> you
> are on hold for 30 minutes. I guess I'll have to pull over a CHP and ask
> him.
>
>

Having the ball where it obstructs the numbers or letters on the plate, even
a little bit, 'is' illegal. However, being stopped for it, in my experience,
would be a fluke. Probably would'nt happen again unless you the same cop
happened to notice.

Ashton Crusher wrote:


> If the towed vehicle makes it impossible to see the plate then it is
> no longer "in a place and position
> to be clearly visible". Therefore you cannot tow anything unless you
> install a high rise plate holder so it's visible over the top of the
> trailer. If you disagree with that then there is no reason why you
> can't obstruct it with a hitch ball. In fact, it is LESS visible when
> towing then when it's got a hitch only. Even with a hitch it's still
> clearly visible AND easily readable simply by slight movement to the
> side.


In the real world, it's best not to employ either reason or wishful
thinking when discussing the law. It is what it is, and even
lawyers can't agree about what it is.

Got that?


Jack