Is it legal to alter a California license plate?
Over the past several weeks, On the Road has received letters from readers asking or commenting about our previous column discussing California license plates. We received emailed images of darkly colored plates, license plates with brightly colored lettering in red or other colors, and the like. Readers reported that they often see colored or modified license plates on vehicles, on what appears to be legitimate license plates with valid registration stickers. A few readers said they thought these were illegal, but were unsure.
RELATED: Are black and white California license plates legal?
We think these license plates are indeed legitimate license plates, but they have been altered or covered with an after-market, non-Department of Motor Vehicles wrap kit, which is illegal.
If a license plate pattern is not on the DMV website and it’s not one of California’s specialty plates, then it’s illegal.
License plates altered with paint, covered with vinyl wrap kits (often purchased online) or tinkered with in any way, can get you in trouble.
The law is simple. California Vehicle Code Section 4464 says, “A person shall not display upon a vehicle a license plate that is altered from its original markings.” Just to double check, we ran this whole issue by Officer Dan Olivas of the California Highway Patrol Inland Division, who confirmed, “Any alteration of what’s been issued by the DMV is illegal.” Thanks to readers Matt Friedlander, Randy Perry, Ray Cooke and Diane Goyal for bringing this up.
Q: Coral Cope said she and her husband noticed that curbs by fire hydrants around Fontana, where they live, are not painted red. She asked why.
A: Some cities, counties and homeowner associations simply don’t paint the curbs red by fire hydrants to avoid paying for repeated paint jobs that would be needed after the paint fades or chips off. That being said, no matter what color the curb is, you still can’t park by a fire hydrant or block it.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Handbook says it’s illegal to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or within 15 feet of a fire station driveway.
In addition, California Vehicle Code section 22514 says you can’t leave any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant unless the vehicle is attended by a licensed driver seated in the front seat who could immediately move the vehicle if necessary; unless the local authority (city or county) adopts an ordinance reducing that distance. If the distance is less than 10 feet there has to be a sign, or unless the vehicle is owned or operated by a fire department and is clearly marked as a fire department vehicle.
For older drivers
The Auto Club is hosting a table on July 13 at the Golden Future 50+ Senior Expo in Ontario and will offer resources on senior driver safety. This free event is from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport, 222 North Vineyard Ave. Information: goldenfutureseniorexpo.com
Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@scng.com or call us at our new phone number, 951-368-9995.