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 New Mexico (NM), the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) under the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department is responsible for the issuance of license plates, also known as vehicle registration plates. New Mexico law requires that a license plate be attached to the rear of the vehicle. Unlike the 31 states and the District of Columbia mentioned, New Mexico does not require a front license plate on passenger vehicles; only one plate is issued and required to be displayed at the rear. The specific placement of the license plate is regulated by state statutes, which dictate the proper way to display the plate, including the height at which it must be mounted. Failure to properly display a rear license plate in New Mexico can result in a traffic stop and citation by law enforcement officers.