Must the license plates be securely fastened on a motor vehicle?

The requirement for license plates to be securely fastened on a motor vehicle is grounded in traffic safety and law enforcement principles. When license plates are properly affixed to a vehicle, they serve important functions such as identification of vehicle ownership, registration status, and allow law enforcement to easily identify vehicles during traffic stops or investigations.

Furthermore, securely fastening license plates helps prevent them from being lost or stolen, which can complicate matters of vehicle ownership and accountability. Requirement for secure attachment is typically encompassed in state laws and regulations that govern vehicle operation, ensuring uniformity and compliance across vehicles.

Options that suggest otherwise—indicating that plates do not need to be secured or only require secure fastening under specific conditions—would undermine the established laws intended to maintain order and safety on the roads. By making secure attachment a standard requirement, states can minimize issues related to unregistered vehicles and improve the efficiency of law enforcement.