Unless otherwise permitted under this chapter, every vehicle required to be registered under this chapter, which is in use upon the highways, shall at all times display the license plate issued to the owner for such vehicle, and the plate shall be fastened to the rear of the vehicle in a position so as not to swing and shall be at all times plainly visible. No person shall display on the rear of a motor vehicle any temporary or permanent plate or tag not issued by the State of Georgia which is intended to resemble a license plate which is issued by the State of Georgia. The commissioner is authorized to adopt rules and regulations so as to permit the display of a license plate on the front of certain vehicles. It shall be the duty of the operator of any vehicle to keep the license plate legible at all times. No license plate shall be covered with any material unless the material is colorless and transparent. No apparatus that obstructs or hinders the clear display and legibility of a license plate shall be attached to the rear of any motor vehicle required to be registered in the state. Any person who violates any provision of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
History. Ga. L. 1927, p. 226, § 8; Code 1933, § 68-215; Ga. L. 1977, p. 596, § 1; Code 1981, § 40-2-38 ; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1584, §§ 3, 6; Code 1981, § 40-2-41 , as redesignated by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 2; Ga. L. 1991, p. 779, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 40; Ga. L. 1997, p. 419, § 10; Ga. L. 2000, p. 523, § 3.
Administrative rules and regulations.
Display of Tags, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, Subject 560-10-10.
Law reviews.
For article commenting on the 1997 amendment of this Code section, see 14 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 215 (1997).
Structure Georgia Code
Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic
Chapter 2 - Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles
Article 2 - Registration and Licensing Generally
§ 40-2-21. Registration Periods
§ 40-2-22. Application to Local Tag Agents or Commissioner
§ 40-2-23. County Tax Collectors and Tax Commissioners Designated Tag Agents
§ 40-2-24. Bonds of Tag Agents
§ 40-2-25. Processing by Private Persons of Applications for Registration
§ 40-2-31. License Plate Design; Revalidation and County Decals
§ 40-2-34. Reports and Remittances by Tag Agents
§ 40-2-35. Commissioner to Have License Plates and Decals by December 1
§ 40-2-37. Registration and Licensing of Vehicles of State and Political Subdivisions
§ 40-2-38.1. Transporter License Plate
§ 40-2-40. Registration of Delinquent Vehicles; Collection and Disposition of Penalties
§ 40-2-41. Display of License Plates
§ 40-2-41.1. Authentic Historical Georgia License Plates
§ 40-2-42. Transfer of License Plates and Revalidation Decals