I just got pulled over for tinted license plate covers. I know I will have to pay the fine, but my question is if they are illegal in Illinois. Why are they sold in all the store like Wal-mart, Autozone and etc... Shouldn't all the store take the cover off their shelves so people don't buy them and get a ticket because they didn't know they are illegal in Illinois.
Thanks for your question. The traffic law prohibiting tinted or clear license plate covers does indeed outlaw the sale of these accessories. In 625ILCS 5/12-610.5(c) it states that: "a person may not sell or offer for sale a registration plate cover." Section (d) further states that: "a person may not advertise for the purpose of promoting the sale of registration plate covers."
You can bring this law to the attention of any stores offering these for sale in Illinois, or contact your local Police Department if you wish. They may not be aware that their sale is illegal, and they should not be on store shelves. Thanks for writing.
Randy
What about license plate sprays?
Response from M/Sgt. Ness:
License plate sprays are not specifically mentioned in the Illinois Vehicle Code. However, 625 ILCS 5/3-413b does prohibit "any materials that would obstruct the visibility of the plate" and 625 ILCS 5/12-610.5 prohibits any object that is designed to "cover any of the characters of a motor vehicle's registration plate" or "distort a recorded image of any of the characters of a motor vehicle's registration plate recorded by an automated red light enforcement system - or recorded by an automated traffic control system"
I believe the spray you are referring to is sold with the advertised purpose of making license plates unphotograph-able. I recently saw an episode of "Mythbusters" that showed that this spray doesn't work. Tests by Illinois Tollway system personnel also showed that the spray does not circumvent Toll Evasion enforcement cameras. That said, plates are designed to be reflective for visibility purposes, and any material that changes the reflective or other properties designed into plates could very well be considered to be obstructing the visibility of the plate. Thanks for your question.
Randy