So, if I was driving a car with the license plate obscured but the bike rack is being used, that's legal?
But if the bike rack isn't being used (ie it doesn't have a bike on it), that's illegal?
What about if I'm driving to pick up my stranded wife whose bike has just had a puncture/mechanical? No bike on rack but it's obviously impractical to store it in the back of the car and only put it on at the side of the road when I pick her up!
Another question: if my rack folds down (eg hitch mounted tray style rack) and the plate isn't obscured when down (without a bike on it), is that legal to drive around like that? That would make parking a pain in the ass and make the rack vulnerable to someone running into it but maybe a way around the issue?