ticketed for vertical license plate mount

[LeaderDuece]

Originally Posted by Khandfw

Thats B/S, I have the same mount and it is f**king clearly visible to any idiot out there...

I think a lot of states have some version of the 45 degree rule -if a cop stands 45 degrees to the left or right of the rear of your bike, can he see your plate? If the answer is no, then it's a violation. I put mine on the back of my pillion, and wired an LED light for it, but the light's not approved as a license plate light or anything, so I suppose I could get a ticket. I'm curious about the separation between rear signals that people are quoting. Bikes have had signals mounted on the rear fender for years, and I've never heard of anyone being ticketed -and unless you have a 280 rear fender, the separation wouldn't be that much...

[terryk]

California law, colors defined, distance to see at night defined, view for other drivers defined, no seperation requirement defined at all.

[DottoreItalia]

I have one of Justices vertical dside mount license plate holders and I'm not sure what is legal in the state of PA however I'm sure it's probably not mine but I've never been pulled over (knock on wood), so that's how it'll stay for the time being. I did see an ad in the new V-twin mag about a company here in PA that makes a plate holder that does both Vertical and Horizontal plate configs with light however they are 300 bills which is insane.

[papawheelie]

It's probably the sort of thing where 98% of police officers have far better things to think about than the distance between our turn signals, angle of visibility on our license plates, etc. Although many of us are technically not adhering to the written laws, we'll never hear a word about it.

The exceptions might be if a police officer thinks a guy is acting suspicious (maybe a trouble-maker, driving questionably, etc.), then BINGO... he/she has a reason to pull us over and chat with us for a few minutes. The other exception might be if their bosses tell them to crack down on all the minor motorcycle offenses out there for a few days.

The same is probably true for cars and trucks -- windows tinted too dark, music too loud, tail lights tinted too dark, cracked windshield, etc.

[tyrranus]

Oldman, what mount are you using? that looks exactly like what I'd want.

[iowawarrior]

when i bought my integrated tail light, custom dynamics?, it said not DOT approved. it was like that for most of their stuff. maybe you can just mount it horizontally, go show the sheriff, then put it back the way it was and hope to not get caught up in another sweep for a while.

[Lazn]

Originally Posted by madtom421

it's a federal law that front turn signals need to be i beleive 14 or 16 inches apart and rear turn signals need to be 6 or 9 inches apart. I looked it up when i put my intergrated tail light on. but yes intergrated signals are illegal. I also belive that moving your plate from the stock location is illegal too. some states choose not to enforce these federal laws, example: in colorado you can buy pot with a medical card but guess what a federal agent can still arrest you because pot is illegal...federal law

Odd, since turn signals are not actually required at all in some states..

FYI: "FMVSS are federal laws that ONLY apply to manufactures and dealers as far as how a vehicle must be SOLD in the United States. What makes a vehicle legal for use on a public roadway is the domain of each individual state."

[wyomingwarrior]

Originally Posted by papawheelie

It's probably the sort of thing where 98% of police officers have far better things to think about than the distance between our turn signals, angle of visibility on our license plates, etc. Although many of us are technically not adhering to the written laws, we'll never hear a word about it.

The exceptions might be if a police officer thinks a guy is acting suspicious (maybe a trouble-maker, driving questionably, etc.), then BINGO... he/she has a reason to pull us over and chat with us for a few minutes. The other exception might be if their bosses tell them to crack down on all the minor motorcycle offenses out there for a few days.

The same is probably true for cars and trucks -- windows tinted too dark, music too loud, tail lights tinted too dark, cracked windshield, etc.

BINGO! Having been an officer, I can say most people forget that officers are regular people too. Many of them even ride themselves. In this case, there's no doubt something locally has sparked this BOLO (be on the look out).

FYI: The main reasoning behind the license plate laws has a lot to do with being able to quickly get plate #'s when a motorcycle is actually involved in a serious crime. The thing is, a lot of sport bikes, even cruisers, look very similar to average Joe and with so many of them on the road, that paticular bike needs to be identified quickly/easily as possible. My plate is mounted on the side up by the swingarm mount and no way is visible at any kind of angle toward the right side. Plus being verticle... well, you try reading letters/numbers vertically then read them horizontally and tell me which one you'll retain faster/easier.

[Zaph]

Kinda sounds like there was a meeting at the police station that morning, and the chief said "OK guys, let's get some motorcycles today."

[akitadog]

Originally Posted by Zaph

Kinda sounds like there was a meeting at the police station that morning, and the chief said "OK guys, let's get some motorcycles today."

Sounds like it, but probably not the case...