You will be fine. You can take this as MTBR Legal advice.

 

You're causing someone, somewhere in CA cancer. This is your only warning.

 

Prop 65 notice.

I think you will be fine, we go around with tires partially blocking the left brake light when using the tailgate pad. Never had an issue.

 

I can’t imagine that cops are going to care about your set-up… unless they pull you over for something else and you act like a jerk to them. Then all bets are off.

I would recommend flipping you bike around, though. Right now your front tire is sitting in your exhaust. The heat from your exhaust is going to weaken the rubber of your tire, or may melt it if driven far enough. Either way, you’re setting yourself up for the tire to fail on you. If you have/get carbon rims, the exhaust could melt the adhesive and ruin the rim. Warranties don’t cover car exhaust damage.

 

I can’t imagine that cops are going to care about your set-up… unless they pull you over for something else and you act like a jerk to them. Then all bets are off.

I agree with Moosedriver. I think your bigger worry would be if you got rear-ended. Typically the person that rear-ends you is found at fault, but in this case, I could easily see them arguing that you were the cause because they couldn't see your tail lights.

Mine blocks about the same as yours, so I've had the same concerns.

Right now your front tire is sitting in your exhaust. The heat from your exhaust is going to weaken the rubber of your tire, or may melt it if driven far enough.

Excellent point. Happened to my brother. Not only did it melt his tire but the funneled heat of the exhaust also caused his bumper to burn.

 

Would it be a valid ticket? Yes. If you are speeding or otherwise attracting attention, this gives them a great reason to pull you over and they'll cite you with anything they can. Would they? Probably not unless you are attracting attention to yourself as in the case I just mentioned. Be aware, those racks damage the car body work over time, so if you want that area to be perfect for resale, it won't be after a while.

 

Simple answer is no! Anything to do with fun is illegal in Kalifornia.

 

That'd be pretty crazy if they gave you a hard time over a bike rack.

 

Its been known to happen. Some hitch bike manufacturers sell accessories that let you mount a lic. plate on the rack.

 

I've driven around LA and Orange County a few times with this Saris rack attached more or less as pictured in the spoiler...

Well, as long as you don't mount the rack to one of those giant whale tail spoilers... although I would like to see that.

 

I have never been pulled over for this and my plate is blocked when Thule rack is on at least two days per week. I am in California. if you drive like an idiot, act like one or give them another reason to pull you over you may expect a ticket.

 

You'll likely be fine locally, but if you're roadtripping... consider yourself a possible target.

That, and you might not want to go ripping through all the little speedtrap cities on the way to Mammoth.

 

I've been driving around and crossing the U.S.(including California) with bikes racks longer than probably half of the members on this site have been alive. I have never ever been pulled over or ticketed for, or even questioned about a rack. Even when I've been pulled over for speeding, which has happened plenty of times.

 

I'm older then you are there buckwheat... back in my day we used to hand crank our cars to start and we'd win one for the gipper.

I've been in a car where we were pulled over and warned about a rack obstruction.

 

I am told that even if you do get pulled over for having an obstructed tail light or license plate, that you will be given a chance to rectify it on the spot, but have not dealt with this directly. Aggressive cops also use minor infractions as an excuse to pull someone over if they want to check for weed/alcohol or to find an excuse to search your vehicle.

 

I've never had an issue. WIth two bikes...the plate is completely blocked. *knocks on wood.

 

I have never had issues here in Sacramento with my bike rack that always covers/hinders my license plates and that's without the bike on it.

 

Every state has the same language about blocking lights and license plates, they are rarely enforced. In states where it is only required to have a rear plate they tend to be more strict since they block traffic and registration verification cameras. In other states they actually have passed laws that permit usuage of bike racks and electric scooter racks and avoid any penalty.

 

Username checks out.

 

CA's got 60 million folks. I don't think they have the time/desire to go ticket anyone with a bike mounted on the back of their car.

 

We haven't even reached 40 million and you're exaggerating by 50% already?

 

We’ll call you peaches because you bruise easily. 😁

 

I use a spare tire rack on my Jeep and relocated the plate to the spares rim. It's visible through two bikes. Brake lights are visible too. I don't have reverse lights. I figure rearward motion shows I'm backing up. How I passed a CHP inspection is beyond me.

 

If it's not road legal, according to California it may still cause cancer.

 

If you’re contemplating throwing down some major cash to get a Kuat Piston Pro, or already have one, they are now selling license plate holders for the rack that flip up and down depending on whether the rack is carrying bikes or not. If I could just get a duplicate plate and keep one on the rack and one on the car that would suit me. for obvious reasons this state won’t double issue a plate and give you two sets of renewal stickers. If I was racking my bike in parts of Cali I would be more worried about making sure someone didn’t take it than my plate situation.

 

The applicable laws are not being enforced in California as with many such laws like using a cell phone hands free or not having tires extend past the fenders.

My worry is more about some inattentive driver texting and failing to realize that I have come to a stop and driving into the rear of my vehicle with the bike rack and two expensive bikes mounted.

There are light kits to add lights and have a wiring cable and connector that goes into the hitch trailer light socket. Most have their limitations but may be better than nothing.

I mounted the front license plate for my vehicle to the bike rack as no one cares if there is no front license plate on vehicles anywhere I have driven over a great many years.

 

I live in CO and had my front plate ripped off in the carwash. Got pulled over within less than a week for no front plate. For years, I thought the same as you; no one cares about the front plate.

 

I have driven around the western USA with no front license plate on my vehicles for the past 75 years and never been pulled over. If the cops were suspicious it would possible be an excuse for one to pull me over. I had a can of Sunshine tea and when I took a drink from it a deputy thought it was a beer can and pulled me over - so anything can happen.

Some people get hit by lightning but they are a very small percentage and often doing something stupid outdoors during a lightning storm.

 

Teslas have no front plate, and there are other fancy cars which go without. It is not legal, but it seems to not be enforced. I guess if enough people do it, it becomes unenforceable, like tinted windows, or trucks in the left lanes.

 

If it looks legal in Ca. it most likely won’t be. Things in Ca are usually the opposite as expected, or appear.