License plates (also known as vehicle registration plates or license tags) are generally rectangular metal plates issued by your state’s department of motor vehicles for the purpose of identifying your car. A license plate must be attached to the rear of your car, and in 31 states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), you must also have a license plate on the front of your car. In a state or district that also requires you to display a license plate on the front of your car, your failure to do so will provide the police with probable cause to stop you and issue a citation at any time. State laws (statutes) generally provide for the specific placement of license plates, stated in minimum and maximum inches from the ground.

In Massachusetts (MA), the law requires that motor vehicles have two license plates: one attached to the front and one to the rear of the vehicle. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) issues these plates and mandates their proper placement and visibility. The plates must be securely fastened and clearly visible, with the rear plate illuminated at night. Failure to display a front or rear license plate, or having an obscured or improperly mounted plate, can give law enforcement probable cause to stop a vehicle and issue a citation. The specific requirements for the placement of license plates, including the height from the ground, are outlined in the Massachusetts General Laws and enforced by the RMV and law enforcement agencies.