People v. White

Opinion

McKINSTER, J.

The issue in this case is whether a license plate that is partially obscured by a trailer hitch ball violates Vehicle Code section 5201, which in pertinent part requires that license plates be mounted so as to be “clearly visible,” and thus establishes a constitutional basis for a law enforcement officer to stop the vehicle. The issue arises in the context of a suppression motion that the trial court granted based on the trial court’s view that the stop was unlawful. Because all evidence against defendant was suppressed, the trial court also dismissed the various…