listen if you go in there and state that then you lose...let me tell you from experience how you need to play it...we have all been there so we all know the drill you get to ask the super troopers questions in front of the judge so ask what was the reason you pulled me over? if he says your tag was blowing every were your almost fuked if he says it was zip tied your almost fuked if he says the same thing he said during the stop"this is 1 of those hid a plates so you can run from the cops" your golden... he did not ticket him because it was zip tied he ticketed him because he thought it was a hid a plate wich yes does carry that fine...if he says in court that that is the reason then you break out all your pictures and ask if it looks like anything is changed...if he says no you show the judge and say see...also ask the officer if he found a switch to flip up the plate or if he tried to flip it or anything along those lines to support/confirm his hide a plate theory...if not then why did he still issue the ticket? see were im going with this? you guys are looking to into the ziptie thing...it was not the problem it was that he thought it was a hide a plate...also make sure to wear a suit...not pants and a nice shirt not dressy clothes but a damn suite you would be supprised what it does...i have actually had many judges criminal and traffic make a comment and even change their verdict/oppinion on me and my case due to the suite...oh yea and please speak proper in front of the judge..no cussing,slang,loosing your temper(unless the case is over and you lost lol) or anything like that