Odd question to the cops here

[JTRipper]

Ok, so I am living in WA, but my car is registered in CT (Military, home of record is in CT). Anyway, I wanted to know how law worked on stuff like having both plates on the vehicle. Does the law in WA apply, or the law in CT (which happens to be the same, but I was banking on a cop not knowing if I get bothered).

This isn't the only law, I'm just wondering what I am going to have to explain to any cops that may pull me over.

[JimC85]

Most moving violations apply in all states. Some equipment violations may not. Window tint is one. If your talking about needing to have 2 license plates as opposed to one, that probably wont either.

Im in IL and cant write out of state vehicle certain tickets. Hope that helps.

[JTRipper]

Thanks, that's exactly what I was asking.

[gn300]

I would match my plates to my drivers licence, if they are different the question would be ..why haven't you changed either your plates or your licence?

Strike one?


Or drive so you don't get stopped!

When i was living in another country i had 2 licences and offered the "correct one" depending on the circomstances!

Ie: what vechile i was driving.

I was such a rebel back then!

[JimC85]

I would match my plates to my drivers licence, if they are different the question would be ..why haven't you changed either your plates or your licence?

Strike one?


Or drive so you don't get stopped!

When i was living in another country i had 2 licences and offered the "correct one" depending on the circomstances!

Ie: what vechile i was driving.

I was such a rebel back then!

For normal people this would be ideal. But military personel are not required to change their drivers license, or plates, to where they are currently living. They are allowed to keep both registered to their "home" state, mainly because they move alot.

Hell, even LEO in IL can do this. I live in WI but still have an IL license and plates. Both are registered to my Pd's address.

I have even seen IL plates and DL's with addresses on them from another state. Thats another way to do it.

[lou1355]

My wife and I were both active duty and I have two sons on active duty.

Here is some take it or leave info I believe is useful:

1. If you ever get stationed in a no income tax state (Florida, Texas, New Hampshire, Nevada, Tennessee, Alaska) take advantage of the opportunity to change your state of residence to that state and keep it that way for your active duty career for the tax advantages.

2. If you ever buy a vehicle out of your home state, check with your home state to determine whether they honor the old soldiers and sailors relief act or similar law which allows you to register your vehicle purchased out of state (as a soldier) and not pay state taxes on it if you agree to not bring it into your home state for at least 6 months (current Florida law). It's worth looking into and can save you a bundle.

3. It goes without saying that you can keep your POV registered, titled and tagged in your home state, but you also will likely need to obey traffic laws wherever you are with precious few exceptions.

I hope that is useful info.

[Sharp Charge]

Here's what I know.... 10 years active duty, now a reservist, as long as both your license and vehicle registration are from your home of record then you shouldn't have an issue. Some states like Hawaii, still require an out of state vehicle inspection and a dmv form with a copy of your LES showing your state of residence.

My father; a police officer of 32 years here in Ohio, had a book in his cruiser that had each state on it and specifically referred to whether or not 2 plates were required on the vehicle. If 2 were required and not displayed, then he could ticket for it.

Hope this helps.

[JimC85]

My father; a police officer of 32 years here in Ohio, had a book in his cruiser that had each state on it and specifically referred to whether or not 2 plates were required on the vehicle. If 2 were required and not displayed, then he could ticket for it.

Hope this helps.

Wow, never heard of that before. Im pretty sure if I tried something like that it would get tossed in court.

Plus I dont care to jam people up that much. I can do it with way less effort other ways.

The only thing that would really apply would be equipment violations anyways ie. window tint and the amount of license plates you need. Moving violations dont care what state your from. If your speeding, your speeding.

[fplour07mag]

Maine LEO here. We can not deal with where your vehicle should be registered unless its in Maine. Being active military you would be exempt as others have said. However we can write if you display more than one state plate as it would be considered illegal attachment..Hope this helps.

[Sharp Charge]

Wow, never heard of that before. Im pretty sure if I tried something like that it would get tossed in court.

Plus I dont care to jam people up that much. I can do it with way less effort other ways.

The only thing that would really apply would be equipment violations anyways ie. window tint and the amount of license plates you need. Moving violations dont care what state your from. If your speeding, your speeding.

I don't know how often he actually used it, but it was provided by the state. PC to stop if something isn't looking right I guess. Be safe!

[JTRipper]

Thanks everyone. And if that doesn't work, I'll go with the "But my car didn't come with a location to mount it to the front, didn't know I needed it..."

[JimC85]

Maine LEO here. We can not deal with where your vehicle should be registered unless its in Maine. Being active military you would be exempt as others have said. However we can write if you display more than one state plate as it would be considered illegal attachment..Hope this helps.

Write for two plates? Thats weird. Prolly 90% of the states require both license plates.

[fplour07mag]

Guess I need to clarify the two plate issue. We've run into people showing two plates from different states thinking we could not enforce which we can. We can not enforce the fact that your state issues two plates but you only have one while in Maine.

[viper3ez]

i disgree. just got out of active duty and while on, i used texas tags and now i'm out and back in texas, i used discharged veteran tags from maryland where i was last stationed. i still carry a military id and the guard's no different from active so i can defend having those tags.

about enforcing another states law, your dad is employed by the state he works so he cannot enforce laws of another state.

lets say i'm in ohio and i have texas tags, your dad cannot make me go to the ohio DNMV to get the tint tested so he cant ticket me for that.

thats the same reason i dont have to get my car inspected while out of state cos that state's dmv cannot inspect my car and i cant drive back to texas to inspect my car

Here's what I know.... 10 years active duty, now a reservist, as long as both your license and vehicle registration are from your home of record then you shouldn't have an issue. Some states like Hawaii, still require an out of state vehicle inspection and a dmv form with a copy of your LES showing your state of residence.

My father; a police officer of 32 years here in Ohio, had a book in his cruiser that had each state on it and specifically referred to whether or not 2 plates were required on the vehicle. If 2 were required and not displayed, then he could ticket for it.

Hope this helps.

[Sharp Charge]

i disgree. just got out of active duty and while on, i used texas tags and now i'm out and back in texas, i used discharged veteran tags from maryland where i was last stationed. i still carry a military id and the guard's no different from active so i can defend having those tags.

about enforcing another states law, your dad is employed by the state he works so he cannot enforce laws of another state.

lets say i'm in ohio and i have texas tags, your dad cannot make me go to the ohio DNMV to get the tint tested so he cant ticket me for that.

thats the same reason i dont have to get my car inspected while out of state cos that state's dmv cannot inspect my car and i cant drive back to texas to inspect my car

A few things here: I don't know Texas law, I managed to avoid getting stationed there, but you stated your a Texas resident, with a Texas DL and MD plates, in CA,VA, Hi and OH you have a time limit after returning to the state to comply with DMV licensing requirements for changing your plates back to TX.

I just called my old man to ask him about the out of state plates, he said that Ohio is a reciprocating state, so if your state law requires 2 plates and your only displaying 1 you can be ticketed. He also said it's a $hitty ticket, but like I said earlier it gives PC to stop the vehicle.

Tint is another pita, most PD's have tint meters in their cars, no need to go to the DMV for that. I got a tint ticket while stationed in VA, with Hawaii plates and DL, doesn't meet VA's law can't say I drove over the bridge from HI, so it was a ticket. When I got to Cali, CHP came onto the ship and did a vehicle brief, they stated that even though your driving through the California with tint that doesn't meet Cali's requirements, you could still be ticketed.

I agree these are all BS reasons, but remember it gives the officer a reason to stop the vehicle, he may discover other violations upon questioning the driver.

The inspection thing, import an out of state vehicle to Hawaii, and you will need to get an inspection, they then put a big blue sticker on your bumper, if you don't comply you'll be ticketed. Buy a car in Hawaii and you get a different inspection sticker on your rear bumper, expires yearly. None of these are emissions tests, just vehicle safety/equipment tests. here's a copy of Hawaii's: Out of State Permit - must have the following

• Current Out of state registration
• Shipping document (Bill of Lading)
• Fill out CS-L (MVR) 27 form (out of state permit application form)
• Current Hawaii Vehicle Inspecition Certificate

In lieu of Out of State permit - RO must produce the following for vehicle currently registered out of State

• Out of state Title (if available)
  
• Current Hawaii Vehicle Inspection Certificate
  
• Current out of state registration
  
• Bill of Lading
  
• Fill out an Application for Registration, Form CS-L (MVR) 1, which must be signed by you, the registered owner(s)
  
• Pay the license plate and emblem fee. the Hawaii expiration date will be the last day of the full month that the out-of-state registration expires.

Hope this helps some people, any other LEO's have info on any of these topics?