When is a vehicle considered in violation for having obstructed tags?

A vehicle is considered to be in violation for having obstructed tags when the tags are partially covered or unreadable. This violation is critical because clear visibility of a vehicle's registration tags is essential for proper identification and enforcement actions. When tags are obstructed, whether by dirt, debris, or any part of the vehicle itself, it inhibits the ability of enforcement officers to verify the status of the vehicle's registration.

In contrast, expired tags and tags not displayed at all are different issues that also constitute violations, but they relate to the legality of the vehicle's registration rather than the visibility of the tags themselves. Parking too close to a curb, while it may also represent a different type of violation, is unrelated to the status of the vehicle's registration tags. Hence, the specific condition of tags being obstructed directly addresses the enforcement of visible identification, making it the reason for the violation classification.