I was given a ticket for not having a front license plate?
I live in Phoenix but was visiting my uncle in Seattle for about a week. I was driving on a surface street when I saw a WSP officer make a u-turn & began to follow me onto I-5.The officer then pulled me over & I asked what infraction I had committed.He said it was because I didn't have a front plate & I explained AZ (where I live & my car is registered) does not require them. I was under the impression that if my vehicle complied with AZ law that it would be accepted in another state. He said I was incorrect & gave me a ticket for no front plate ONLY. Why must I meet another state's front plate requirement if I do not live there & my vehicle is not registered there? Any chance of getting the ticket dismissed?
The cop is right. When you are in another state you and your car have to comply with the state law you are in. That's like saying why do you have to obey the traffic laws there when you don't live there and may not know what they are. When you travel into other states, you are subject to their laws, wherever you are from. No chance of getting the ticket dismissed, however, in most jurisdictions, "front plate" tickets are fix it tickets.
Your defenses likely include RCW 46.16A.160 (Nonresident exemption — Reciprocity — Rules)
(1) The provisions of this chapter relating to the registration of vehicles and display of license plates and registration certificates do not apply to vehicles owned by nonresidents of this state if:
(a) The owner has complied with the law requiring the registration of vehicles in the names of the owners in force in the state, foreign country, territory, or federal district of residence; and
(b) The license plate showing the initial or abbreviation of the name of the state, foreign country, territory, or federal district is displayed on the vehicle substantially as required in this state.
(2) This section applies only if the laws of the state, foreign country, territory, or federal district of the nonresident's residence allow similar exemptions and privileges to vehicles registered under the laws of the foreign state, country, territory, or federal district.
(3) Foreign businesses owning, maintaining, or operating places of business in this state and using vehicles in connection with those places of business shall comply with this chapter. Under provisions of the international registration plan, the nonmotor vehicles of member and nonmember jurisdictions that are properly based and registered in such jurisdictions have reciprocity in this state as provided in RCW 46.87.070.
(4) The director may adopt and enforce rules for the registration of nonresident vehicles on a reciprocal basis and with respect to any character or class of operation.
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The statutes are at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=46 .
Given that you likely do not want to be in WA to defend a traffic ticket (since you live in AZ), you likely should hire an attorney in WA. In WA, for traffic tickets, the cited person does not have to be in court if represented by an attorney.
I agree with both of the previous answers. You do have to comply with the laws of the states in which you are operating a motor vehicle, including the display of a front license plate. I would only add that you may be able to request a mitigation hearing by mail since you are out of state. The purpose of a mitigation hearing is to admit you committed the violation but ask to explain the circumstances in the hopes that the court will mitigate (reduce the fine). Although there is no way for you to fix the issue and get a front plate given that you are an Arizona resident and they do not provide a front plate, you may be able to explain the circumstances to the court in writing and ask for a reduction on the fine. You may not get it, but it is worth a try to explain why you were not displaying a front plate and see if you can save some money on the ticket. Be sure to send the ticket in to request a hearing within 15 days of the date the ticket was issued. You may need to contact the clerk of the court to ask whether a hearing by mail is available. Best of luck!
