What you see other people doing or not doing on the roads is not a good indicator of what's legal. For example, I see a lot of people driving 15, 20, or more mph over the posted limit or coasting through stop signs. I also see equipment and registration violations on a regular basis. They might not get stopped as soon as they hit the street, or in a week, or maybe ever, but if you're driving around with built-in probable cause for a stop, sooner or later your luck may run out. If they're absolutely clear they may still be technically illegal, especially if they're dirty or not perfectly transparent for some reason, but the darker the tint, the more you become "Smokey bait". Think about it - why have a law requiring the display of registration but then not make it illegal to cover it up or obscure it in some way? If it wasn't illegal, every crook out there would have their license plates hidden or at least harder to see.
Btw, those covers don't stop a traffic camera from getting your plate number, since the plate underneath is highly reflective and the bright flash from the camera makes it "pop".
From the Ohio Revised Code (emphasis mine) -
4503.21 Display of license plates and validation stickers or temporary license placard or windshield sticker.
(A) No person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the front and rear of the motor vehicle the distinctive number and registration mark, including any county identification sticker and any validation sticker issued under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191 of the Revised Code, furnished by the director of public safety, except that a manufacturer of motor vehicles or dealer therein, the holder of an in transit permit, and the owner or operator of a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, manufactured home, mobile home, trailer, or semitrailer shall display on the rear only. A motor vehicle that is issued two license plates shall display the validation sticker only on the rear license plate, except that a commercial tractor that does not receive an apportioned license plate under the international registration plan shall display the validation sticker on the front of the commercial tractor. An apportioned vehicle receiving an apportioned license plate under the international registration plan shall display the license plate only on the front of a commercial tractor and on the rear of all other vehicles. All license plates shall be securely fastened so as not to swing, and shall not be covered by any material that obstructs their visibility.
No person to whom a temporary license placard or windshield sticker has been issued for the use of a motor vehicle under section 4503.182 of the Revised Code, and no operator of that motor vehicle, shall fail to display the temporary license placard in plain view from the rear of the vehicle either in the rear window or on an external rear surface of the motor vehicle, or fail to display the windshield sticker in plain view on the rear window of the motor vehicle. No temporary license placard or windshield sticker shall be covered by any material that obstructs its visibility.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Effective Date: 01-01-2004
