” It is illegal to drive with improper plates,
and since there is no way to check VIN
numbers while a car is going down the
road, it was reasonable to assume the
plate didn’t match the wrong colored
vehicle.
Had the car’s body been changed to
make it appear to an entirely different
vehicle it would be the same thing, a
reasonable stop to make sure the plate
wasn’t stolen.”
Bad logic. If the car or tag were stolen long enough to repaint, it would be reported. A lot of people repaint and forget to update the registration. The cop knew this.
Improper plates is a crime, most people wouldn’t even know if their plate was switched, they don’t know the number without checking.
Weeks could pass before they ever knew.