What are the penalties for obscuring license plates in 2021?
2 Answers
For motor vehicles driven on the road without displaying license plates, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall detain the vehicle. Article 90 of the Road Traffic Safety Law states that motor vehicle drivers who violate road traffic safety laws shall be given a warning or other penalties. For motor vehicles driven on the road without displaying license plates, or with intentionally obscured or defaced plates, 12 points will be deducted at once. Motor vehicle license plates must not be forged or altered. Generally, the traffic management department of the public security organ will confiscate such plates, detain the vehicle, and impose detention for up to 15 days.
I remember back in 2021, a colleague of mine forgot to clean his license plate, which got half-covered in mud, and was immediately pulled over by traffic police. The penalty was really strict at that time—a 500-yuan fine plus 12 demerit points, requiring him to retake the driving test to get his license back. He explained that it got dirty during rainy weather, but the officer didn’t buy it, saying obscuring the plate was an intentional attempt to evade surveillance and fines. The 2021 regulations hadn’t changed—typically, fines ranged from 200 to 2000 yuan, and losing all points meant retaking the written exam. Don’t take such small things lightly—check and wipe your plates when washing your car weekly to avoid trouble. Blurred plates also increase accident risks; if someone rear-ends you and flees, they’d be untraceable. Bottom line: keeping plates clear is the easiest way to stay hassle-free.