As for the various over-the-plate covers, several states are addressing that right now. Very soon, there will be laws popping up that state simply that nothing may cover the plate, clear or not.
States are getting very tired of people playing license-plate games, and similar scofflaw actions. Besides, they need the revenue right now.
Arizona just passed a law (went into effect Jan. 1) that you may no longer have a license plate frame that touches (much less covers) the name of the state on the plate. there were just too many decorative or advertising (dealership) plate frames that obscured the name of the state. Since so many states have so many different specialty plates that it's become well-nigh impossible to tell which state it is if the name is not clearly visible.
This law also affects out-of-state drivers driving in Arizona. You can be pulled over and made to remove the offending frame. And trust me on this, you don't want to argue with the cop about it, especially if it's the DPS (Department of Public Safety--our version of the highway patrol).
And you don't want to put the frame back on later, even if it is your custom-ordered and very special frame (you know, the one that has POTN where the state name would normally be). The computer remembers you very well, and on the second offense they simply impound your car on the spot. And they really don't care if you're deep in the Arizona desert 50 miles from the nearest town.
