Got pulled over because of Bully hitch step

[surfstar]

I've been driving around TX with bike racks in TX 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.

OP needs to glue a tiny bicycle to the hitch step.

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[wernerdare]

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?

I don’t believe that is a violation under the Texas law pertaining to obstructed license plate.If however you were to get a ticket for it as long as you remedy it before court they would have to dismiss the ticket. I don’t think he’s sure about the actual law and was just trying to pretend like he actually knew what he was talking about.If you want to know the real answer ask a DPS trooper they actually know the transportation code.But once again from reading the law I don’t believe you are in violation.Trailer hitches ,bike racks etc are the exception and I think that would fall under the exception.

 

[GPSMan]

Mine does the same thing, now I’m paranoid

Thanks for posting.
That's not as bad as I was thinking.
I'd keep that.

 

[GPSMan]

I've been driving around TX with bike racks in TX 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.

Aren't you supposed to be a good citizen and move the plate to the rear window of your truck tho? Theres the win-win solution.

 

[Maverick Grabber]

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?

Especially when towing

 

[Maverick Grabber]

A cop pulls a guy over, :Your eyes are red have you been drinking"
the guy replies "No Sir, Yours looked glazed" "Have you been eating donuts?"

 

[Rockingchair]

If I am not towing with my Mav Hybrid (yes I tow a car with it), I remove the hitch. I don't want a tailgater having any advantage in hitting me. The extra 3-4 inches of step or hitch sticking out is just a bigger chance of being rear-ended and getting totaled. I like my pickup.

 

[Montana]

Tyrant.

Nothing better to do apparently.

But let's be honest here... The violation was purchasing that monstrosity to begin with.

 

[azadv]

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.

Yeah well a front plate isn’t required in every state, and states vary on tint too, so there’s that.

 

[azadv]

What exactly is the law? Does it state visibly behind the vehicle at specific distance, does it state degrees to either side? Some trailers have the plate mounted on the light which is on one side. Viewing from an angle at the other side would obscure it. But viewing from behind, which is probably what the statute states, is fine.

 

[FLAirGunner]

A lot of police vehicles are equipped with plate scanners. Chances are his was and it didn't register your plate when he was behind you so he felt compelled to pull you over. Does sound like he was either having a bad day or was extremely board! Stopping someone for that would take more effort than most cops want to expend!

 

[reneau]

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?

Texas law says it can't be obstructed. We got a bike rack and put a license plate holder on it for this reason. We also added some brake lights so the vehicles behind us could see our brake lights.

 

[ltcolsal]

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?

This is the kind of LEO that creates problems for the rest of us. I believe you are fine. I checked the Texas Transportation code and in my judgement he didn't have a good probable cause to pull you over. He was looking for an excuse to pull people over. He reminds me of a LEO who used to go into the bars before his shift started and "case the place for possible DUI's." When his shift started he would sit in his cruiser next to the parking lot and when one of his "DUI's" would drive out, he will pull them over.

Like I said, this is the kind of Cop that makes me sick. He is the type that makes the community to hate Cops.

Next time he pulls you over, asked him point blank: "Sir, can you help me, what section and subsection of the Texas Transportation Code I am violating?" Be polite, accept the ticket, go to court and bring the bully hitch, and pictures taken from the back and right side (sidewalk side) showing it did not cover the plate and the code did not specify it had to be viewable from 180 degrees.

This is so petty. Below is the applicable TX code

Texas Transportation Code - TRANSP § 504.945. Wrong, Fictitious, Altered, or Obscured License Plate
Current as of April 14, 2021 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
(a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or displays on a motor vehicle a license plate that:
(1) is issued for a different motor vehicle;
(2) is issued for the vehicle under any other motor vehicle law other than by the department;
(3) is assigned for a registration period other than the registration period in effect;
(4) is fictitious;
(5) has blurring or reflective matter that significantly impairs the readability of the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered or the letters or numbers of the license plate number at any time;
(6) has an attached illuminated device or sticker, decal, emblem, or other insignia that is not authorized by law and that interferes with the readability of the letters or numbers of the license plate number or the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered;  or
(7) has a coating, covering, protective substance, or other material that:
(A) distorts angular visibility or detectability;
(B) alters or obscures one-half or more of the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered;  or
(C) alters or obscures the letters or numbers of the license plate number or the color of the plate.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $200, unless it is shown at the trial of the offense that the owner knowingly altered or made illegible the letters, numbers, and other identification marks, in which case the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) Subsection (a)(7) may not be construed to apply to:
(1) a trailer hitch installed on a vehicle in a normal or customary manner;
(2) a transponder, as defined by Section 228.057, that is attached to a vehicle in the manner required by the issuing authority;
(3) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner;
(4) a trailer being towed by a vehicle;  or
(5) a bicycle or motorcycle rack that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner.
(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a)(3), (5), (6), or (7) if the defendant:
(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first court appearance;
(2) pays a fine not to exceed $10;  and
(3) shows that the vehicle was issued a plate by the department that was attached to the vehicle, establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4) is a Class B misdemeanor.

 

[DanielP]

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?

My recommendation - remove the hitch. When I am not towing anything, my hitch goes into the tool box! Have you ever not noticed the hitch on another truck, and ended up pulling up a little too close when parking? Well I did, and ended up with a nice dent! That's another reason to remove the hitch when not in use.

 

[AncientMan]

OP could always say the step identifies as a bike rack…

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