; that can't be legal. It looks great though.
Custom license plate before/after
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Stevensville, MI
Custom license plate before/after Before-
After-
I'm going on 600 miles w/ it painted red, havn't gotten pulled over yet. Gonna paint the license plate bolts this week. What do you think?
I can't find any laws that specifically state its illegal to paint license plates. Its mounted vertical, more than 12" off the ground and clearly visible from 100' in daylight as to what i've found in the Mi Laws.
After-
I'm going on 600 miles w/ it painted red, havn't gotten pulled over yet. Gonna paint the license plate bolts this week. What do you think?
I can't find any laws that specifically state its illegal to paint license plates. Its mounted vertical, more than 12" off the ground and clearly visible from 100' in daylight as to what i've found in the Mi Laws.
ive seen a few exotics around here that had license plates that were black. it was a show and it didnt look like it was painted upon close inespection maybe they just did a good job? but i was thinking about painting mine myself but was wondering if it was legal. yours looks really good
You might want to call and check with you local State Police post to see if it is legal. I know in our state that it is illegal to alter the plate in any way. But it does look nice!
Well, from a "pig's point of view:" I read several sections of the Michigan MVC and there is a section, 257.257, that deals with Alteration of Registration Plate. The section specifically states, "with fraudulent intent," which you clearly don't have, so that could be your defense. The main section regarding registration plates is:
The bolded text is what may get you...it explicitly states that the secretary of state designates the color of the plate, text, and sticker...This is just my .02 and is by no means official legal advice...just some food for thought. I hope you can get away with it because it looks awesome! 
My SS is black, so Pennsylvania made it easy for me as the DARE program special plate is Black with red logo and white text...
Sorry for the long post...
257.225 Registration plate; attachment to vehicle; legibility; color; distinctive registration plates; name plate, insignia, or advertising device prohibited; violation as civil infraction.
Sec. 225.
(1) A registration plate issued for a vehicle shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. Except that a registration plate issued for a truck tractor or road tractor shall be attached to the front of that vehicle.
(2) A registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which the plate is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging. The plate shall be attached at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measured from the bottom of the plate, in a place and position which is clearly visible. The plate shall be maintained free from foreign materials that obscure or partially obscure the registration information, and in a clearly legible condition.
(3) A registration plate or the expiration tab on the registration plate shall be of a different color designated by the secretary of state with a marked contrast between the color of the registration plate and the numerals or letters on the plate. The secretary of state may provide a distinctive registration plate as a replacement for a standard plate. To honor a special or historical event, the secretary of state may provide a commemorative plate as a replacement for a standard plate.
(4) A person shall not attach a name plate, insignia, or advertising device to a motor vehicle registration plate in a manner which obscures or partially obscures the registration information.
(5) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle which has a name plate, insignia, or advertising device attached to a motor vehicle registration plate in a manner which obscures or partially obscures the registration information.
(6) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction.
Sec. 225.
(1) A registration plate issued for a vehicle shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. Except that a registration plate issued for a truck tractor or road tractor shall be attached to the front of that vehicle.
(2) A registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which the plate is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging. The plate shall be attached at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measured from the bottom of the plate, in a place and position which is clearly visible. The plate shall be maintained free from foreign materials that obscure or partially obscure the registration information, and in a clearly legible condition.
(3) A registration plate or the expiration tab on the registration plate shall be of a different color designated by the secretary of state with a marked contrast between the color of the registration plate and the numerals or letters on the plate. The secretary of state may provide a distinctive registration plate as a replacement for a standard plate. To honor a special or historical event, the secretary of state may provide a commemorative plate as a replacement for a standard plate.
(4) A person shall not attach a name plate, insignia, or advertising device to a motor vehicle registration plate in a manner which obscures or partially obscures the registration information.
(5) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle which has a name plate, insignia, or advertising device attached to a motor vehicle registration plate in a manner which obscures or partially obscures the registration information.
(6) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction.
My SS is black, so Pennsylvania made it easy for me as the DARE program special plate is Black with red logo and white text... Sorry for the long post... Trending Topics
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Stevensville, MI
Yea i just got back from a lawyers office i do computer work for. He pulled up the same section LawmanSS did. He said techically speacking painting the plate is Not illegal. That does NOT mean i'm not gonna get pulled over for it, but the law is vaigue(SP?) enough that he could easily get it thrown out of court.
He said there a million arguments that can be put in my favor, expecially since michigan has been whoring out their license plates to every college and non profit orginization. Theres literally like 20 different plates u can get now.
So i'm keeping a copy of section 257.225 in my glovebox. If i get pulled over i'll deal w/ the cops in a nice manner and show them what i have. I have like 8 of those plates anyway, i get a new one every year.
For anyone wanting to know, i just ruffed up the surface w/ a scotchbright pad (only the gackground). Masked off the letters w/ the good autobody masking tape. Cut the letters out, which took me 2 hours. 1 coat of primer, and 4 coats of paint color color matched to the car.
Total cost for all materials was $28.
Seeing everyones face say "there's no way thats legal."
Priceless.
He said there a million arguments that can be put in my favor, expecially since michigan has been whoring out their license plates to every college and non profit orginization. Theres literally like 20 different plates u can get now.
So i'm keeping a copy of section 257.225 in my glovebox. If i get pulled over i'll deal w/ the cops in a nice manner and show them what i have. I have like 8 of those plates anyway, i get a new one every year.
For anyone wanting to know, i just ruffed up the surface w/ a scotchbright pad (only the gackground). Masked off the letters w/ the good autobody masking tape. Cut the letters out, which took me 2 hours. 1 coat of primer, and 4 coats of paint color color matched to the car.
Total cost for all materials was $28.
Seeing everyones face say "there's no way thats legal."
Priceless.
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Originally Posted by [__--MUD--__]
So i'm keeping a copy of section 257.225 in my glovebox. If i get pulled over i'll deal w/ the cops in a nice manner and show them what i have.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 0
From: Friendswood, TX
That looks really good.
If you ever get puled over, just tell the cop that it came that way.
Originally Posted by [__--MUD--__]
He said there a million arguments that can be put in my favor, expecially since michigan has been whoring out their license plates to every college and non profit orginization. Theres literally like 20 different plates u can get now.
If you ever get puled over, just tell the cop that it came that way.
The bold letters said that the letters in the plate have to contrast the plate itself, so no orange with red or grey with black, leaving red with white to be perfectly legal... or atleast that's how i took it.
