sman said:
What is the name of your state? Minnesota
A couple of days ago I was ticketed for this not having front plates on my car. I understand it is a violation. But I have one question I would like to have answered: No police car I have ever seen here in Minnesota has front plates! Isn’t this also a violation? Is there are law that police cars do not have to have front plates? Why would the law enforcement be above the law?
Thank you for you help.
My response:
Here's why, and the following is basically the same in most every jurisdiction - -
Minnesota Statutes 2002, Table of Chapters
Table of contents for Chapter 168
168.012 Vehicles exempt from tax or license fees.
Subdivision 1. Vehicles exempt from tax, fees, or plate
display. (a) The following vehicles are exempt from the
provisions of this chapter requiring payment of tax and
registration fees, except as provided in subdivision 1c:
(1) vehicles owned and used solely in the transaction of
official business by the federal government, the state, or any
political subdivision;
(2) vehicles owned and used exclusively by educational
institutions and used solely in the transportation of pupils to
and from those institutions;
(3) vehicles used solely in driver education programs at
nonpublic high schools;
(4) vehicles owned by nonprofit charities and used
exclusively to transport disabled persons for educational
purposes;
(5) ambulances owned by ambulance services licensed under
section 144E.10, the general appearance of which is
unmistakable; and
(6) vehicles owned by a commercial driving school licensed
under section 171.34, or an employee of a commercial driving
school licensed under section 171.34, and the vehicle is used
exclusively for driver education and training.
(b) Vehicles owned by the federal government, municipal
fire apparatuses including fire-suppression support vehicles,
police patrols, and ambulances, the general appearance of which
is unmistakable, are not required to register or display number
plates.
(c) Unmarked vehicles used in general police work, liquor
investigations, or arson investigations, and passenger
automobiles, pickup trucks, and buses owned or operated by the
department of corrections, must be registered and must display
appropriate license number plates, furnished by the registrar at
cost. Original and renewal applications for these license
plates authorized for use in general police work and for use by
the department of corrections must be accompanied by a
certification signed by the appropriate chief of police if
issued to a police vehicle, the appropriate sheriff if issued to
a sheriff's vehicle, the commissioner of corrections if issued
to a department of corrections vehicle, or the appropriate
officer in charge if issued to a vehicle of any other law
enforcement agency. The certification must be on a form
prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicle will
be used exclusively for a purpose authorized by this section.
