Chief’s Corner By Chief Steven J. Wojnar Dudley Police Department Summer means vacation, recreation, and travel for many people. Some who wish to transport bicycles, grills, or other equipment outside their vehicles, often use a rack or stand attached to the rear bumper. These seem to be prevalent on the roads, especially at this time of the year. I was asked to explain the rules surrounding the use of these devices. More often than not, bicycle racks or stands, mounted on a trailer hitch, are positioned over or around the rear number plate. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 6 is the law which outlines the display of number plates. It states in part, “number plates shall be kept clean with the numbers legible and shall not be obscured in any manner by the installation of any device obscuring said numbers, and during the period when the vehicle or trailer is required to display lights the rear register number shall be illuminated so as to be plainly visible at a distance of sixty feet.” This law requires all number plates to be visible. It particularly prohibits the installation of any device which can obscure the numbers. Any bicycle rack or other type of carrier must be positioned in such a way to not interfere with the display of the license plate. It is also important to remember this law applies to both the front and rear plates. A violation of this section can result in a $35 civil infraction. |
This law insures vehicles traveling on the roads can be properly identified. It is important to keep the plate clearly visible when installing any device. If the use of a storage rack on the rear of the vehicle blocks the number plate, you should seek an alternative. Roof devices maybe an option. In addition, some of these rear mounting racks may have a license plate holder or a type of extension to allow you to re-locate your license plate temporarily. These alternatives can allow you to transport larger items and keep you in compliance with the law.
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
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