If a license plate cannot be quickly, easily read, the driver/owner cannot be held responsible for reckless action. KY law states registration plates must be displayed conspicuoulsy, kept legible, illuminated and unobscured. (The law is quoted at the bottom of this page.)

The following five pictures were taken over a period of five minutes in a two block area. Louisville obviously has a problem.

We have asked the Mayor to aggressively ticket and prosecute registration plate violations. He responded with: "My staff and I will discuss your request with our Legal department and with the Louisville Metro Police Department." Safe Streets Louisville will follow up with the Mayor.

We would also like to point out that the much maligned "happy sun" license plates and special interest plates put too much emphasis on design and not enough on being legible.

Sun-reflecting film over plate	Plate canted upwards 50 degrees behind glass (glare).	New-car plates have two lines of small digits illegible superimposed on a confusing background
Plate at an angle behind tinted glass	By the time you pick yourself off the pavement and decide which plate you should record, the vehicle is gone

Kentucky Law

186.170 Display of registration plates

(1) Except as provided in this subsection and in KRS 186.045, the owner shall have the receipt issued by the cabinet through the county clerk constantly in his possession, and shall display the registration plate conspicuously upon the rear of the motor vehicle, except that the registration plate upon a semitrailer-tractor shall be displayed upon the front of the tractor. The owner's copy, or a reproduced copy thereof, of the registration receipt of every motor vehicle, except motorcycles, licensed under KRS 186.050 shall be kept in the vehicle at all times and shall be available for inspection. Plates shall be kept legible at all times and the rear plate shall be illuminated when being operated during the hours designated in KRS 189.030. No rim, frame, or other covering around the plate shall in any way obscure or cover any lettering or decal on the plate;