Commonwealth v. Bernard

The Commonwealth appeals from a District Court judge’s ruling allowing the defendant’s motion to sup*772press. At issue is a State trooper’s decision, based on G. L. c. 90, § 6, to stop a vehicle because it had a tinted plastic cover over its rear license plate. The statute requires that “number plates shall be kept clean with the numbers legible and shall not be obscured in any manner by the installation of any device obscuring said numbers.” G. L. c. 90, § 6, as appearing in St. 1968, c. 293. After briefing and an evidentiary hearing, which included introduction by the Commonwealth of a color…