anyway of changing my 1968 camaro's license plate from blue to black?

My painter volunteered to paint mine years ago. Looks just fine.

I was a little worried about the legal aspects at first. I talked to several cops I know from various law enforcement agencies. The consensus was "who cares" (not necessarily in those words). Two of three years later, I got a speeding ticket. The officer never said a word about the plates. I assume since the plates matched the reg, all was cool.

It really shouldn't matter from a legal aspect. The license plate color only helps identify the state that the car is from initially. As long as you do not paint the plate a different color from the state colors from where it was issued. If you altered the license plate lettering, then that would be illegal. People with vintage vehicles or classic cars get custom plates made all the time.

I just had one plate made from these guys (licenseplates.tv) It was a Ca black plate and it came out nice (it looks almost like the original).

DC

It really shouldn't matter from a legal aspect...

You know what, I ran this question by a CHP buddy - and it evidently does matter 'legally' to some;

CV-4463.5. (a) No person shall manufacture or sell a decorative or facsimile license plate of a size substantially similar to the license plate issued by the department.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the director may authorize the manufacture and sale of decorative or facsimile license plates for special events or media productions.

(c) Every person who, with intent to prejudice, damage, or defraud, commits any of these acts is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for six months or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, which penalty shall not be suspended:
Added Ch. 859, Stats. 1986. Effective January 1, 1987.


CV-4464. (a) No person shall display upon a vehicle a license plate altered from its original markings.

(b) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for six months or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, which penalty shall not be suspended:
Added Ch. 1478, Stats. 1959. Effective September 18, 1959.

Just as an FYI ;)

John

I am from Missouri and our laws are a little different. You can not operate any vehicle on the highways which does not bear a license plate isseud by the state. That being said a change to the law was enacted several years ago that allows you to register a nostaslgic Missouri plate as long as the number is not currently in use and the plate is the same year as the manufacture as the vehicle. You have to provide pictures of the plate and register them as historic. I have a 69 Missouri plate on the the rear of my 69 Vette.

Looking at CA law concerning the display of the plates, it appears that without the intent to defraud, there is no violation. The only way to find out for sure is to have an irrate officer write you up and then challenge the violation in court to develop case law.

I've seen vintage license plates that are black. I bought some vintage ones for my 69 but they are white, not really white but either way. They do have black plates though with white lettering. Maybe that's something to look into.

You can get them where they bare your states name on them and the year car that you have too. I live in texas and my plates say " 19 Texas 69" up top and then the plate number below. Looks pretty sweet on them.

you cant alter plates in any way. they belong to the state. even putting little stickers on them like dashes, periods, and such are illegal. though it is ultimately up to the copper to enforce the law most wouldnt recognize the diffence between a blue plate and a black plate besides the color. just be warned, you can be tagged and you plates confiscated.

I think I'm more likely get a ticket for a missing front plate than having one made and displayed to match the orginial (what's on the rear).

In Idaho it would also be illegal to paint the paint the plate. You also cannot have any covering, such as the smoke colored plastic covers. If you alter the plate in any way, you will be cited and the plates confiscated.

You know what, I ran this question by a CHP buddy - and it evidently does matter 'legally' to some;

CV-4463.5. (a) No person shall manufacture or sell a decorative or facsimile license plate of a size substantially similar to the license plate issued by the department.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the director may authorize the manufacture and sale of decorative or facsimile license plates for special events or media productions.

(c) Every person who, with intent to prejudice, damage, or defraud, commits any of these acts is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for six months or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, which penalty shall not be suspended:
Added Ch. 859, Stats. 1986. Effective January 1, 1987.


CV-4464. (a) No person shall display upon a vehicle a license plate altered from its original markings.

(b) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for six months or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, which penalty shall not be suspended:
Added Ch. 1478, Stats. 1959. Effective September 18, 1959.

Just as an FYI ;)

John

John, If I understand the CVC correctly and did not misinterpret it's content.... It does not state that you can not paint the license plate a different color, but it does make clear that you can not alter the markings on the license plate for reasons to commit fraud. I do not see anyone who wants to paint a license plate a different color to match a classic license plate as commiting fraud. I can't see any law enforcement officer giving out a ticket or arresting anyone for simply repainting a license plate a different color.

Not only is it illegal to repaint the plate, California also regulates the number/letter combinations. For example, you can get a custom plate that says "MY CMRO", but you cannot get a plate that has a simple ABC 123 (three letters three numbers) sequence. Based on the letters used the plate year can be determined. I've had two friends try to get ABC 123 personalized plates and DMV turned them both down citing this reason.

The police likely won't come down on you for repainting an original black plate as long as it is well done, and likely won't for any other unless you do something to aggrivate the situation. The rule to live by with the police? Don't do something stupid.

From my law enforcement experience, It is against the law in Idaho to change any part of the license plate. To repaint the same color would ruin the reflective capability of the plate, as would changing the color. To alter a license plate in any way would result in a citation and removal of the plate. (In Idaho of course, can't say for any other state, but I'm betting that if an Officer saw that the plate has lost the original condition due to paint, that it would result in some type of action).:(

Not only is it illegal to repaint the plate, California also regulates the number/letter combinations. For example, you can get a custom plate that says "MY CMRO", but you cannot get a plate that has a simple ABC 123 (three letters three numbers) sequence. Based on the letters used the plate year can be determined. I've had two friends try to get ABC 123 personalized plates and DMV turned them both down citing this reason.

The police likely won't come down on you for repainting an original black plate as long as it is well done, and likely won't for any other unless you do something to aggrivate the situation. The rule to live by with the police? Don't do something stupid.


I can attest to the number letter part of what Carl is saying as I submitted for personal plates using my black plate letter number combo and was told it was a sequence previously used and could not be used as a personal plate...

why repaint if it is not legal, i would go to dmv and say my plates were stolen and they will give you new ones, which i done before. unless you want it a certain color than you are s o l.

this is true what is mentioned above regarding having personalized plates. also, painting plates is also included in altering. plus, if you decide to get personalized plates with a combination of just 6 leters and /or numbers that will look like an early issued plate, and paint it, the coppers will know because the dmv return comes back with it saying "reflectorized plates". you can not do anything to the plates period but weve all seen crazy things done to plates so you take your chances.

angel

Good discussion....as I know a bunch of cops, I know that they will stop you for the "probable cause" of an altered plate, but just really want to check out the ride!:beers: