Got pulled over because of Bully hitch step

[Snox801]

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.

I somewhat disagree. You do not and should not respect the badge. Respect the person in general. They like anyone else should earn it not be given. The days of the good old boys are gone.
I don’t treat them any different than anyone else. Why because I treat them all with respect till they give me a reason not to. This cop could piss off. He was being a a hole. He’s wasting time instead of out solving a caper or real crime. Easier to pester this man.
Now do t take this as I’m anti law enforcement I’m not very pro but we as citizens have the responsibility to also keep them in check. Stops like this erode the respect and good will people have for them.
Worst case they do is give you the ticket and you have the right to fight it in court.
Never try it on the side of the road just take it and see them in court.
But OP I would not remove that at all if you use it like you do and it’s not intended to block the plate.

Sponsored

 

[Huchipapa]

In my 50 years of driving I’ve met maybe 10-15 police officers during traffic stops. The vast majority have been pleasant experiences. Only twice did I feel they made a bullshit call just to juice their quotas. One was recent because I had a front license plate cover (clear). He really needed something better to do….

 

[whizwart]

I think this is one of those things where you have to decide how important is this to you. You can leave it and risk the cops going on a power trip and maybe fighting it in court, or take it off and use something else. In principle, fighting them is what to do, but practically, taking it off may be the way you wanna go.

 

[gp1200x]

I leave my trailler hitch on all the time (4K) because it uses a hitch locking bracket to eliminate any play or rattles when towing (it works great) and requires a wrench for removal. In NYS it is illegal but I do not know of anyone that has ever been given a ticket for it. Leaving the trailer hitch on saved two of my vehicles from any real damage. Can't say the same for those that ran into me though.

 

[LSchicago]

Mine does the same thing, now I’m paranoid

Trailer hitch does too. At least police here have better things to do. No front plate on my Mustang for 6 years, and no front plate on my Maverick either. My truck always has the same bump step you have, or a hitch in place.

 

[shadow76]

“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.”

Had a cop as a neighbor during my youth. I asked him how he decides when to write a ticket? He said if the violation was a serious safety issue, then a ticket is written. However he makes the decision before he exits the vehicle. Driver attitude does not influence his decision.

 

[Shakesbear]

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?

LOL! Years ago i got stopped by a highway patrolman on I-10 near Comfort. Guy cut me off twice before pulling me over. Told me "THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES A VALID LICENSE PLATE ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES!" Told him the "Native" Texan plate had been on my truck for three years. I park next to the county sheriff every day, and have lunch with Fredericksburg police chief every Monday and they never said a thing to me about it. Barney Fife got within an inch of my nose and yelled "SOME PEOPLE COMMIT MURDER, AND THREE YEARS LATER IT'S STILL MURDER!". i relayed this story to some good friends that were senior troopers and the howled with laughter. "Rookie" they said

 

[Franklin]

Sometimes you just ge pulled over by "THAT GUY" which really sucks - It happed to me 25 years ago when I didn't come to a complete stop at a railroad crossing on New Years Eve. Good thing I had nothing to drink.

 

[Dochatley]

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.

This is exactly why I have a bump step on mine or hitch. Rather they hit it than my truck.

 

[rclee]

You could write your state congress person and see if they can add the "hitch step" to the law that allows for all the other things to be in there ( bike rack etc...) I don't think that would be that far of a stretch. Heck the hitch step wasn't a thing all that long ago.

Sponsored