Will I Be Caught If My Rear License Plate Is Accidentally Blocked?
4 Answers
Electronic surveillance cameras can generally capture blocked license plates, and traffic police can also track the vehicle's movement trajectory. The penalties for obstructing license plates are as follows: 1. Penalty 1: Forging, altering, or using forged or altered motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, vehicle licenses, or driving licenses, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall confiscate them in accordance with the regulations on the application and use of motor vehicle driving licenses and detain the motor vehicle. 2. Penalty 2: Offenders may face detention for up to 15 days, fines, and a deduction of 12 points; if a crime is constituted, criminal responsibility shall be pursued according to the law. 3. Penalty 3: Additionally, failing to hang or install license plates as required, intentionally obscuring or damaging license plates, and other illegal acts will result in a deduction of 12 points, while violating traffic signal rules will incur a deduction of 6 points.
That day I was in a hurry to drop my kids off at school and didn’t secure the luggage properly in the trunk. It popped up and covered the license plate. As soon as I entered the city, it was caught by a traffic camera at the intersection. The next day, I received a notice that all 12 points on my license had been deducted. The traffic police warned me that the automated ticketing system now fully recognizes whether license plates are intact. It doesn’t matter if it’s blocked by luggage—even half-covered by rain, snow, or mud counts as a violation. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to walk around the car before driving to specifically check the front and rear plates. Actually, obstructing a license plate is more serious than speeding—it results in losing all your points and retaking the written test, not to mention bearing full liability in case of an accident. I recommend everyone regularly clean the grooves of their license plates, and those with modified cars should pay extra attention to whether the rear spoiler height complies with regulations.
Last week, my colleague accidentally scraped a delivery box while reversing and didn't notice. The corner of the box happened to get stuck at the position of the rear license plate. As a result, after driving just two kilometers, they were stopped by a mobile traffic officer and fined 200 yuan with 3 points deducted. The officer explained that any obstruction affecting the complete recognition of the license plate, whether it's a piece of paper or mud splatter, is considered a violation. I checked Article 95 of the Traffic Law, which states that obstructing a license plate carries a minimum fine of 200 yuan, and severe cases may result in 12 points deducted. The high-definition cameras in the city are equipped with AI recognition functions and can even detect if the license plate's reflective film is too thick. It's best for drivers to keep a bottle of windshield washer fluid handy to clean off any splashed mud promptly, and to ensure there's enough clearance when loading items in the trunk.
My father is a seasoned driver who always reminds me to pay special attention to the license plate when washing the car. He said that nowadays traffic cameras are all connected in real-time, and if the plate is covered by leaves for just three seconds, it will trigger an alarm. Once, he was driving a construction truck when the canvas on the rear compartment sagged and covered half of the plate. He received a violation text message in less than half an hour. The police told him that the equipment can automatically detect any covering, and unintentional obstruction still results in a fine. You need to be especially careful when frequently driving on highways, as wind pressure can easily cause the plate to be covered with insect remains—remember to check it at service areas. The law considers any ambiguity as a violation, so keeping the license plate clean is equivalent to avoiding the hassle of fines.
