§7-6-23(a)(5)

< Back to list of parking violations

Violation 7-6-23(a)(5): Valid License Plate Required/Improper Display of Plate

The City of Boulder requires that vehicles parked on public property, or on private property open to the use of the public for parking, to display valid, current license plates in the location(s) required by the laws of the state, territory or country which issued the license plate(s). 

Current Registration

The following picture illustrates a Colorado license plate with appropriate registration decals. 

The "5" represents the month (May) the registration expires.  The "02" decal represents the year (2002) the registration expired. When parked in the areas described above, your license plates must display a current license plate registration from the state that issued your plates.  A few states issue yearly registration decals that are placed on the windshield.

Proper Display of License Plates

Colorado law regarding the proper display of license plates is set forth in C.R.S. §42-3-202.  That law requires that most vehicles display two license plates, one in the front and the other in the rear.  Motorcycles, trailers, and other similar vehicles are only required to display a rear license plate. 

In addition, C.R.S. §42-3-202 requires that license plates be securely fastened to the vehicle at a height not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible.  Permanent license plates that are placed on the dashboard or in a vehicle's rear window do not meet this legal requirement.  Temporary plates must be displayed at all times in the vehicle in a manner that they would be clearly visible from the outside; temporary plates taped to the inside of the rear windshield comply with this requirement.

Finally, C.R.S. §42-3-202 requires that license plates be maintained free from foreign materials (like dirt) and in a condition to be clearly legible.  That section also prohibits the use of a device or substance that causes all or a portion of a license plate to be unreadable by a system used to automatically identify a motor vehicle.  This includes license plate covers that distort or impair the legibility of the license plate.      

You may have received a ticket for this violation if:

1.  Your license plate(s) had expired

2.  You had only one license plate and you are required to have two license plates

3.  Your license plate(s) were not displayed in the proper location

4.  You displayed two different license plates (see sample photo, below).

Improper Display of Plates:  Two different plates (one permanent, one temporary-in rear window) displayed. 

More Information Regarding Valid License Plates

Colorado law gives vehicle owners a 30 day grace period to renew permanent license plates (although a late fee may apply).

For the license plate below, an owner had until the end of June 2002 to renew the plates within the grace period. You will not receive a ticket for a violation of Boulder Revised Code section 7-6-23(a)(5) if you are within the grace period.

Colorado Temporary Registration Plates DO NOT have the 30 day grace period given to permanent license plates.  The temporary plate pictured below expired on Nov. 19, 2003. 

In addition to being a parking violation, it is also a moving violation to drive with expired plates/registration. A law enforcement officer could stop your vehicle and issue you a ticket for driving with license plates that are not current. The county court ticket below was issued to a driver for this violation.

State By State Vehicle Registration Information

Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:30