Looks to me that the LEO in this case in wrong by nature of a poorly written piece of vehicular code. 55-4-134 obviously covers this issue but uses the words "purporting to be an official license plate previously issued by the state of Tennessee". The law outlaws the ones like TN ones, but not all ones that look like other states' plates.

It is up to you if you really want to push the issue and go to court if you get a ticket. My guess is that a few court challenges would force your states law makers to update this one. I do agree with the other posts that state that you are pushing the limits of the law here. In my non-legal opinion if you are not looking to test this law you should refrain from displaying that plate on your vehicle.

I also posted the section on proper display of the correct TN plate for reference. I found no other references to plate display in the vehicle code that were remotely relevant. There was an update in 2007, and I could not find the full text, the limited notes from the update do not indicate a change to these sections, so these sections likely stand as they are shown here.

55-4-134. Replica license plates. —

(a) Any replica license plate manufactured or sold in Tennessee purporting to be an official license plate previously issued by the state of Tennessee shall include the language “REPLICA” in at least twenty-four (24) point type on the face of such replica license plate.

(b) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

[Acts 2005, ch. 84, § 1.]


55-4-110. Display of registration plates — Manner — Penalty for violation. —

(a) The registration plate issued for passenger motor vehicles shall be attached on the rear of the vehicle. The registration plate issued for those trucks with a manufacturer's ton rating not exceeding three-quarter (ľ) ton and having a panel or pickup body style, and also those issued for all motor homes, regardless of ton rating or body style thereof, shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The registration plate issued for all other trucks and truck tractors shall be attached to the front of the vehicle. All dealers' plates, as provided in § 55-4-221, and those registration plates issued for motorcycles, trailers or semitrailers shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

(b) Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so to prevent the plate from swinging and at a height of not less than twelve inches (12˛) from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible. No tinted materials may be placed over a license plate even if the information upon such license plate is not concealed.

(c) (1) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor. All proceeds from the fines imposed by this subsection (c) shall be deposited in the state general fund.

(2) A person charged with a violation of this section may, in lieu of appearance in court, submit a fine of ten dollars ($10.00) for a first violation, and twenty dollars ($20.00) on second and subsequent violations to the clerk of the court which has jurisdiction of such offense within the county in which the offense charged is alleged to have been committed.

[Acts 1951, ch. 70, § 46 (Williams, § 5538.146); Acts 1953, ch. 167, § 7; 1955, ch. 52, § 5; 1957, ch. 108, § 1; 1959, ch. 26, § 2; 1973, ch. 234, § 3; 1974, ch. 525, § 2; 1975, ch. 128, § 2; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-410; Acts 2004, ch. 698, §§ 1, 2.]

 

Read his first post. A police man has already told him it's illegal, No ticket, just a warning.


Howdy

 

Don't run a front plate and see if anyone notices. I haven't had a front plate on 2 of my vehicles for 17 years, not a word from anyone...knock on wood

 

Running any Auburn Tag should be illegal LMAO RTR

 

Bingo. While all this legal advice was "spewed" it was "spewed" by those of us who actually read what the OP posted.

 

Just put it in your glove box and say it just fell off if pulled.

 

Utah law states that you must have both front and rear plates. Fine for no front is $10.00 first time then it goes up. Little town cops with the Barney Fife mentallity are the one most likley to make an issue of it. I have not been running a front plate but I think I will put it on to go to The Moab Jeep Safari just to avoid the small town police.

 

You shouldn't run the Utah plate if you're living in TN. I've seen countless pictures of your Jeep and I keep thinking to myself "WOW where is that place" and then I realize its not in Utah...

 

If you're calling to ask if it's "ticketable" by explaining what happened, and they tell you the code you are violating, then there's no need to "look it up and see if you are violating it". The officer just told you that you were. So did the one who gave you the warning. Looking it up to understand it better isn't a bad idea though. Laws can be written very strangely sometimes... ok, often.

I wrote a guy for not having a front plate the other day, but that's in NY where 2 are required (barring exceptions). If I saw you driving a car with two different tags, it would certainly get my attention and you pulled over. Looks suspicious.

 

Very wise to run the front plate during safari. It's the only week of the year that the Moab Police Department brings in officers from other departments around the state for additional support.
One year, when driving home during safari, I was pulled over because the officer said he saw me throw a cigarette butt out the window. I looked him straight in the eye and said "No you didn't. I've never smoked anything in my entire life." Then he said he smelled Alcohol, which he couldn't have since I wasn't drinking. Ended up not getting a ticket because I wasn't doing anything wrong. Long story short... they look for any reason to bust you during safari.