Got pulled over because of Bully hitch step

[GhostMav]

The moment I pulled out of the parking lot at work to go home last night, a cop that had been sitting beside the lot pulled me over. I had no idea what I had done because I literally had been driving for 5 seconds.

He told me that my Bully hitch step obscures the first 2 letters of my license plate when viewing the vehicle from the left and that it's a violation. I told him I've been driving with it on for half a year all over Texas and been around many many cops and none have pulled me over for that.

After he left me I saw him pull out and pull over the first car he saw driving past us too.

Is this BS? Should I leave my hitch on or take it off? I use it every day. Never had a problem until this guy and I've been driving with it everywhere for months. You can see the plate fine when standing behind the truck. It's just when you move to the left because the plate is to the right of the hitch. But wouldn't that mean any hitch I put on my truck would do the same thing?

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[boe757]

an annoyance - wanted to get his nose in your window and do the "I SMELL" the court has upheld bike racks and handicap carriers even tho they can block plates by being inserted into the hitch receivers. Its like "I seen you go over the fog line"
my 2 cents

 

[wjg]

The moment I pulled out of the parking lot at work to go home last night, a cop that had been sitting beside the lot pulled me over. I had no idea what I had done because I literally had been driving for 5 seconds.

He told me that my Bully hitch step obscures the first 2 letters of my license plate when viewing the vehicle from the left and that it's a violation. I told him I've been driving with it on for half a year all over Texas and been around many many cops and none have pulled me over for that.

After he left me I saw him pull out and pull over the first car he saw driving past us too.

Is this BS? Should I leave my hitch on or take it off? I use it every day. Never had a problem until this guy and I've been driving with it everywhere for months. You can see the plate fine when standing behind the truck. It's just when you move to the left because the plate is to the right of the hitch. But wouldn't that mean any hitch I put on my truck would do the same thing?

Keep it as is, cop looking to fill a quota or just an ass.

 

[SavvyMavi]

You know the funny thing is… when I close my right eye, I can’t see my right side mirror either…
Maybe he was having a bad day…

 

[gwrace14651]

The moment I pulled out of the parking lot at work to go home last night, a cop that had been sitting beside the lot pulled me over. I had no idea what I had done because I literally had been driving for 5 seconds.

He told me that my Bully hitch step obscures the first 2 letters of my license plate when viewing the vehicle from the left and that it's a violation. I told him I've been driving with it on for half a year all over Texas and been around many many cops and none have pulled me over for that.

After he left me I saw him pull out and pull over the first car he saw driving past us too.

Is this BS? Should I leave my hitch on or take it off? I use it every day. Never had a problem until this guy and I've been driving with it everywhere for months. You can see the plate fine when standing behind the truck. It's just when you move to the left because the plate is to the right of the hitch. But wouldn't that mean any hitch I put on my truck would do the same thing?

Were also in Texas and my wife had plastic covers over her plates that had faded from the sun. Plate was still visible but not from the sides. The cop let her off with a warning but told her to take off the covers. So she complied. Would a slight drop down fix the issue?

 

[NJBob]

I got one and thought about that. Don't want to give them the chance to pull me over for any reason. In NJ half the teslas have no front plate. See many with tinted front windows, illegal any tint in NJ. Where does this angle he is talking about stop? NJ changed the law with the licence plate bracket. Used to be any covering was illegal. Now you just have to be able to know what it says. Like who cares if garden state is blocked.

 

[sprubs]

The moment I pulled out of the parking lot at work to go home last night, a cop that had been sitting beside the lot pulled me over. I had no idea what I had done because I literally had been driving for 5 seconds.

He told me that my Bully hitch step obscures the first 2 letters of my license plate when viewing the vehicle from the left and that it's a violation. I told him I've been driving with it on for half a year all over Texas and been around many many cops and none have pulled me over for that.

After he left me I saw him pull out and pull over the first car he saw driving past us too.

Is this BS? Should I leave my hitch on or take it off? I use it every day. Never had a problem until this guy and I've been driving with it everywhere for months. You can see the plate fine when standing behind the truck. It's just when you move to the left because the plate is to the right of the hitch. But wouldn't that mean any hitch I put on my truck would do the same thing?

so no ticket or written warning? I guess you risk this guy seeing you again since you presumably are going to work 5 days a week and he could just camp out in the same spot. I would think anything that is technically "temporary" would be okay but I don't live in TX.

that said a lot of trucks seem to have license plates centered just over the hitch receiver. if you have a hitch in there wouldn't it partially obscure the plate?

 

[ndmiller]

The moment I pulled out of the parking lot at work to go home last night, a cop that had been sitting beside the lot pulled me over. I had no idea what I had done because I literally had been driving for 5 seconds.

He told me that my Bully hitch step obscures the first 2 letters of my license plate when viewing the vehicle from the left and that it's a violation. I told him I've been driving with it on for half a year all over Texas and been around many many cops and none have pulled me over for that.

After he left me I saw him pull out and pull over the first car he saw driving past us too.

Is this BS? Should I leave my hitch on or take it off? I use it every day. Never had a problem until this guy and I've been driving with it everywhere for months. You can see the plate fine when standing behind the truck. It's just when you move to the left because the plate is to the right of the hitch. But wouldn't that mean any hitch I put on my truck would do the same thing?

He just wanted to see your Maverick, but needed an excuse to pull you over. No harm no foul, probably looking at picking one up himself.

I've been pulled over in my Porsche 718 Boxster numerous times for 37-40 in a 35mph going down hill in traffic with everyone on their brakes slowing down as they see the cop car clear a day. Each time the officer walks around the car asks a few questions and let's me go.

 

[Exranger]

Mine does the same thing, now I’m paranoid

 

[AF Blue]

The moment I pulled out of the parking lot at work to go home last night, a cop that had been sitting beside the lot pulled me over. I had no idea what I had done because I literally had been driving for 5 seconds.

He told me that my Bully hitch step obscures the first 2 letters of my license plate when viewing the vehicle from the left and that it's a violation. I told him I've been driving with it on for half a year all over Texas and been around many many cops and none have pulled me over for that.

After he left me I saw him pull out and pull over the first car he saw driving past us too.

Is this BS? Should I leave my hitch on or take it off? I use it every day. Never had a problem until this guy and I've been driving with it everywhere for months. You can see the plate fine when standing behind the truck. It's just when you move to the left because the plate is to the right of the hitch. But wouldn't that mean any hitch I put on my truck would do the same thing?

Well hello to you too!!!
Welcome!!

To your question (BS?) ... only BS if it is not a law/code violation.
If it is a violation, just do your part and respect the badge.
Judgement calls in the streets usually won by the officers .. their show.

If I were a LEO, I would not have bothered to stop you for it.
I could simply maneuver to the right and read the plate.

 

[Old Man]

There's a reason the plate number has to be clearly visible from 50'. If they are looking for a particular vehicle and plate number and your vehicle matches the description but they can't clearly see the plate number you will get pulled over and be wasting their time if you aren't the one they are looking for. Just follow the law as you are required to and understand the legislature wrote each motor vehicle law for a reason.
And no, most departments don't have quotas for number of tickets to be written. If a fix-it or warning will handle the situation then that is usually what will get written unless your attitude during initial contact warrants otherwise.
Also, it is the lion and wildebeest with traffic enforcement. There are so many violations on the road and so few police that only a tiny number actually get caught. Teslas and most high-end vehicles usually have a high rate of violation such as no front plate and tint.

 

[Jeff D.]

To your question (BS?) ... only BS if it is not a law/code violation.
If it is a violation, just do your part and respect the badge.
Judgement calls in the streets usually won by the officers .. their show.

If I were a LEO, I would not have bothered to stop you for it.
I could simply maneuver to the right and read the plate.

My opinion would be very similair to AF Blue's. If I used the step all the time and was only stopped once over a long period and not ticketed, I'd consider just leaving it, knowing I may recieve a ticket from a grouchy cop. Don't we kinda do that already when we speed? A calculated Risk/reward.

I rarely leave anything in my reciever for 3 other reasons. 1) I have run my shins into my drop hitch more than once with scars to prove. 2) I worry about someone stealing my hitch when parked in public(I don't use a locking pin) 3) atleast in Minnesota, if you leave something in the reciever for an extended period it can rust seize so tightly only a flame thrower and sledge hammer can get it loose.

 

[Maverickman74]

Yeah forget that. Move to Maui, 80% of the vehicles here have all kinds of violations. Only thing they pull you over for here is crazy driving and seatbelts.

 

[ATXTACOS]

I've been driving around TX with bike racks for over 20 years and have never pulled over. Hell, I got pulled over for speeding in west Texas with a hitch tray. It was loaded with totes that completely obscured the plate, and the cop didn't mention it. This is my current set up.

After looking it up apparently, I'm legal and you're not.

Bicycle Rack Obscuring License Plate. My bike rack obscures my license plate, is that against the law? No, there is an exception for bicycle and motorcycle racks. § 504.945 Section C, item 4.

Makes perfect sense.

 

[OrCoaster]

You know the funny thing is… when I close my right eye, I can’t see my right side mirror either…
Maybe he was having a bad day…

When I close both eyes I can't see the hitch or the plate.

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