Traffic Stops

[Kate]

When you make traffic stops, especially in the evenings, do you look to see if an inspection sticker is valid, or is it something that you notice when you're parked, etc.? I'm curious because this came up in conversation at work last week with a co-worker who has yet to get her car inspected, but her registration is valid. What's the fine for expired stickers? Also, for your state, do you need both inspection and emission stickers?

And another question, but unrelated: Do you need one or two licence plates in your state?

As always, thanks in advance.

Kate

[txinvestigator1]

I always looked at inspection stickers, not just on TS, but also while passing cars going the opposite direction.

Texas requiires 2 plates.

[Babysmamadrama]

I always check the inspection and emissions stickers. These are harder to steal and if they don't match up to the year tab on the car, I probably have a stolen tab or one appropriated by less than legal means. It's a violation here in Missouri not to have current inspection and emissions on your car and I usually tell people I am giving them a break on it as I issue another summons. I get my stat, they get their break and I look like a helluva guy.

[duego]

In Georgia we no longer have inspections stickers. After your vehicle passes emissions it gets entered into a state wide computer system and you will not be able to renew your tag until it's put into the system. Georgia only requires one plate which I hate.

[DepDog]

Michigan has no inspection or emission stickers either. We only require one plate.

[Darin]

At night I will check the inspection sticker. Especially if it's an older vehicle. I don't profile people but I do profile cars ;)


In Virginia an expired inspection sticker is a $30 fine plus court cost of $56 in my jurisdiction. An expired rejection of inspection sticker is a $50 fine + court cost.

In VA. we have no emmision sticker requirement.

In VA. you need 2 (front and rear) license plates fastened securely on your vehicle. I wrote a ticket a few weeks ago for not having the front tag on the vehicle. It was in the passenger floorboard.

[tpd_six]

2 plates required here too. We don't have seperate inspection stickers from the registration. Vehicles older then 5 years old have to be inspected every year and the proof has to be shown to get the registration renewal. Newer vehicles only need them every 2 years.

I only ask for the inspection if I think they may not have one where the registration is already expired, or if there is a problem that shouldn't have been passed off on inspection. Also if there is a possibility the inspection has been forged or altered or the inspection station has been passing off on something serious that they shouldn't.

[Kate]

In Georgia we no longer have inspections stickers. After your vehicle passes emissions it gets entered into a state wide computer system and you will not be able to renew your tag until it's put into the system. Georgia only requires one plate which I hate.

Are there any safety checks your car has to go through (brakes, lights, etc.) along with emissions?

Another question on plates: I see a lot of them in the rear view windows of a persons car as opposed to it being secured where the licence plate is supposed to go. Is that something you'd stop someone for?

[Darin]

Another question on plates: I see a lot of them in the rear view windows of a persons car as opposed to it being secured where the licence plate is supposed to go. Is that something you'd stop someone for?

That's not legal in VA. as it has to be securely fastened. And I do stop for that.

[fetom]

We don't have inspection or emissions stickers. Our law requires a current registration sticker which shows the date of expiry. Each year is colour coded so they are easy to spot. They are stuck on the windscreen, passenger side, bottom corner. Fine for an expired or no sticker $51 ticket. We require 2 numberplates on vehicles other than motorcycles. They must be securely fitted and visible at 20metres from up to a 45 degree angle in direction from the plate, in the direction the plate is facing. ticket $111 and 3 demerit points to licence (get 12 points a you get 3 month licence suspension.)

[txinvestigator1]

Texas has a safety inspection and in Many counties that requies an emmissions test.

[Darin]

Also in VA. you can't have tinted license plate covers. You can have clear covers but as soon as they fade or get cloudy then they are illegal. I've never wrote a ticket for that but it's a good reason to stop.

[ccfrogman]

Colorado requires an emissions test to be done at a state authorized facility every other year for most vehicles. New vehicles have a three year grace period before they have to start having inspections done on them. You must present proof of passing this test in order to renew registration every year so there is no sticker needed.


Colorado requires plates in front and in back and they must be “securely fastened”.

[Darin]

VA and MD both use different colored expiration stickers and I'm quite adept at spotting ones that aren't right while moving at highway speeds or in heavy traffic. After a while your eyes just attune to them.

It took me a while to adjust to the difference between 04 sticker and 06 sticker. Both are dark colors.... in the beginning I turned on a lot of em but luckily seen where they were good

[Darin]

The new inspection stickers require a close look as well. The 06 side of the sticker is black like the 04 sticker. But I can usually spot the difference from a mile away. ;)