dweese Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 This urban myth seems to go around every so often, but this one is true because I saw the ticket first hand...Yes you can leave your trailer hitch in well not in use, that's not where this post is going. What you can't do is block your rear licence plate in anyway. Friend of mine here in town got a $250 fine from an OPP during a New Years eve RIDE check, for having his hitch in, as in the eyes of the LEO at the stop, it blocked part of his rear licence plate. Now this was on a car so, for those with trucks your most likely ok, because they hang low. But us car drivers who have a hitch that turns up to give the trailer tongue the room it needs to not hit the ground listen up. He took the ticket to the local X-Copper legal service and they looked at his hitch and said, Yup it blocks the middle of the plate. They figure if he goes to court they cut the fine something lower but, but he is going to have to pay something and it also means a day off work to spend in court. The X-Copper dude said he was the 3rd person in this week with the same type of ticket. So just a word of advice, take 30 seconds and pull your hitch out, if it could be seen to anyway block the rear plate, budgets are tight everywhere so looks like everything that is questionable will be questioned. Sure you can go to court in protest to tie the system up even more, but a $250 fine vs a few days off work for court what's cheaper for you in the long run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildbill Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 three tickets probably all by the same cop meanwhile real crimes go unpunished Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledguy74 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 sounds like another OPP cash grab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Quimby Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I would fight it. See if the copper even shows up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dweese Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 I would fight it. See if the copper even shows up. OPP have been paid for court for a few years now. They show up about 95% of the time now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Quimby Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 OPP have been paid for court for a few years now. They show up about 95% of the time now. Most coppers I know get paid. Peel, OPP, Hamilton anyways. Some just are too lazy to go for one tick though. Pretty brutal ticket. Why don't they chase down these people that leave bike racks on all year too. Sheesh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzy Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 What they really should focus on are the ones that rub the blue off the the letters so the entire plate looks white. I would think the law would go after these people more than the one that block the plate with the hitch. You have to ask yourself why they would go to that much trouble to rub off the lettering. - Avoid 407 charges? - Avoid others reporting wreck less driving? - Avoid DUI? Sorry officer a really wash my car a lot, and the paint just came off!! Hmmmm!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiDooStu Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I have to attend court for all charges I lay, rather criminal or traffic court. There is no option... As for that ticket, that's pretty greasy.. I can't see myself ever laying that one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiDooStu Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 And I'm not OPP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Izzy, I think it's the process that is used now to paint/coat the plates. The old plates were stamped, then painted & those plates lasted for years. Now the sheet metal has the reflective film applied, then the plate is stamped. This stretches the film over the letters/digits making it thinner & less durable. I think the plates start to deteriorate the 1st time the vehicle is driven in the rain . Try to save the plate from wear & tear by putting a CLEAR plate cover on it & the cops will probably give you a ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Apparently it is illegal to block ANY part of your plate...That includes the plastic licence plate frame with your dealer's name. My brother got a ticket in Bradford for that one...I guess the guy wasn't a "Yamaha" man... Oh...and stay out of the left lane if you're towing a trailer on any highway with 6 lanes or more...I got that ticket myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillabellelodge Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Got a ticket a few years ago for obstructed plate as it was covered with snow. Took pictures of the cop cars at the OPP station with the plates covered and took them to court with me. I beat the charge and the judge reamed out the cop for giving me the ticket in the first place. The whole thing was kind of funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02Sled Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I would fight it. See if the copper even shows up. One ploy that often helps having the officer not show up is to appear at the court house and request an alternative court date. Tell them you need time to seek advice. It seems that more often than not when it is not on the originally scheduled court date the officer doesn't appear. It was an OPP friend who pointed this out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue er Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 sounds like that cop would give you a ticket if you were towing a trailer as well for an obstucted plate must of been a bad day for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crackher Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 fight it....fight everything and then call the newspaper to illustrate this brilliant use of tax dollars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abitibi Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 They show up about 95% of the time now. In my experience, that hasn't been the case. If you are able and it isn't too much of an inconvenience I would always fight any ticket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadoo Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 sounds like that cop would give you a ticket if you were towing a trailer as well for an obstucted plate must of been a bad day for him. This is why on black plated vehicles the val tag is to be on the front plate. Just FYI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machz54 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Watch out for trailer plates mounted under your trailer ,Got nailed for that one this summer on the 407,even have transponder and trailer plate linked to vehicle,Cop drives up behind in SUV that sits real high and says can't see plate ,no time to fight ticket,Have always respected police but have now lost that feeling,have moved plate on all my trailers.Don't give idiots like that an excuse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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