Various traffic tickets may apply if you fail to follow Georgia’s license plate laws. Examples of violations include failure to attach a rear license plate, installing an illegible license plate, or driving with an expired license plate. These violations may also trigger traffic stops, which could lead to additional traffic tickets in Georgia. Speak with a lawyer if you need to fight these tickets.
You Don’t Need a Front License Plate in Georgia
One thing to keep in mind is that Georgia does not require front license plates. The only requirement is that you attach a license plate on the rear of your vehicle. As long as you have a rear license plate, you should not face consequences for missing a front license plate.
Your License Plate Must Be Legible
Like many states, Georgia is investing heavily in automated license plate readers (also known as “Flock cameras”). Regardless of what you might think about these cameras, it is almost always illegal to evade or circumvent them in any way.
A common method to “trick” Flock cameras involves the use of certain sprays or plastic covers for license plates. These methods often go viral on social media, with users demonstrating that their plates have become “invisible” to automated cameras.
This conduct has numerous legal implications. First, it is worth noting that such methods often backfire in spectacular fashion. Flock cameras are programmed to alert law enforcement whenever they detect illegible or obscured license plates.
In other words, this will have the exact opposite of the intended effect. Instead of evading law enforcement, you will simply alert local officers or troopers whenever you pass a Flock camera. This could lead to a traffic stop with serious consequences.
Secondly, intentionally obstructing your license plate is a misdemeanor in Georgia. If prosecutors can prove that you willfully installed some kind of device, spray, or plastic covering to obstruct law enforcement activities, you may face up to a year in jail. This goes far beyond traffic rules, crossing the line into criminal conduct.
What if You Drive With an Expired License Plate in Georgia?
If you drive on an expired license plate in Georgia, you also face serious consequences. The exact penalties depend on how expired your license is, but you could face a misdemeanor charge and jail time of up to 12 months. That being said, you may be far less likely to face criminal consequences for this offense. Compared to intentionally obstructing your license plate, this is often an accidental oversight with less criminal intent.
Can a Georgia Traffic Ticket Lawyer Help Me?
A Georgia traffic ticket lawyer may be able to help if you face fines and other consequences for license plate violations. Although this may seem like a minor infraction, many license plate violations have the potential to be quite serious. Contact Lankford & Moore Law if you need help fighting a traffic ticket in Georgia.
