[hyredgunn]

I cant beleive i got pulled over today for my licence plate being mounted on the left side of me Fury, The cop told me it is a 140.00 fine for that, but he was doing a education stop to let me know his law.

Please someone show me the Az law that states that the plate is to be mounted directly behind the rear tire, all im finding is it needs to mounted so it is visable from the rear.


Over 25 years of riding near every day and never been pulled over for this crap, and all my bikes have left side mounts.

 

[Easy E]

Im not aware of a violation in mounting the tag on the side, but i do know it has to be well lite and now it must clearly show "Arizona" in full view. do you have a frame that covers it?

 

[Dave Maher]

All states have different laws in this regard to their plates but they usually wont bother you if its a horizontal mount. Is it a horizontal mount or vertical?.

 

[imwright1985]

Yeah i have heard of Horizontal vs verticle, some country's require rear (some states may). Light and the plate being not obstructed are musts though

 

[NMUCat]

All states have different motovehicle codes. What the officer give you a written warning or anything with the violation number on it? I tried to google but AZ isnt easy for to loook up as OH.

I can tell ya in Oh, all you have to do is have it visibley displayed to the rear and lighted by a clear white light visible from 50ft (Ohio Revised Code 4503.21).

 

[imwright1985]

Logic dictates that rear license plates on any vehicle must be viewable from both sides of the rear .

I expect that many state laws actually spell out what angle of view is required and it is just one of those laws for which enforcement is at the discretion of the officers you may encounter.

I was thinking about that one too, dont know how detailed the laws are but see alot of plates on the side, and it isnt visible from oposite side at most angles

 

[695]

I've been told that in California the license plate must be viewable from 180 degrees. I have not found a regulation to such.
T

 

[CBSIMONSEZ]

Here is what i have found in this issue.

28-2354 - License plates; attachment; civil penalty

What i have found easier then using Google .. try using Ask.com for specific questions. I simply typed in " motorcycle license plate location in AZ " and was directed to another cycle site in which this very topic was being discussed. There, there was this link i posted above. i foudn this information in about 4 minutes including typing the link here. I save Google for site specific questions and locations.

 

[Dave Maher]

Logic dictates that rear license plates on any vehicle must be viewable from both sides of the rear .

I expect that many state laws actually spell out what angle of view is required and it is just one of those laws for which enforcement is at the discretion of the officers you may encounter.

There are written laws that are specified and differ from state to state whereas the specified viewing distance is required from the rear to any side mount plate and that could be subjective to the officer on the scene. I previously asked the question and I am curious in this case if the side mount was a vertical or horizontal side mount plate. In many cases you are able to get a free pass if you have a side mount horizontal plate and an assured fine and ticket for any vertical side mount plate. Although vertical plates are still legal in few states they are more frowned upon in most for obvious reasons. Its easy enough to check the laws in your state but in my area of the world it is not illegal and there is no problem with a viewable horizontal side mount plate. Does anyone know which type of side mount was given in this case?

 

[imwright1985]

Here is what i have found in this issue.

28-2354 - License plates; attachment; civil penalty

What i have found easier then using Google .. try using Ask.com for specific questions. I simply typed in " motorcycle license plate location in AZ " and was directed to another cycle site in which this very topic was being discussed. There, there was this link i posted above. i foudn this information in about 4 minutes including typing the link here. I save Google for site specific questions and locations.

yep with that i would go for more of an official breakdown, the wheel may be classified as an obstruction

 

[hyredgunn]

No I didn't get a ticket, all i got was a education on were a plate should be mounted on a bike. I have dug so far into the Az laws between my wife who works for the city in the crime lab, a few of my cop friends and a biker attorney. They all told me that there is no law on were it has to be mounted as long as it is mounted on the back, visible from the rear, not the side , from the rear. Evey custom sold in Az has the plate left mounted by the axle, mine will stay the same until a real law come out saying otherwise.

 

[woodenhorse]

He probably wanted a closer look at your bike.

 

[X_KIOWA_X]

the cop probably didn't get laid the night before and was in a bad mood and just wanted to mess with a biker, probably why he didn't give a ticket since theirs no specific law.

 

[therealchuckdizzle]

In California, as well as in all the other states, the plate has to be mounted horizontally. The new Harley nightster comes stock with a horizontal sidemount plate, so if they can do it......so can anybody else. I bet the cop did just want a closer look at your bike.

 

[CBSIMONSEZ]

No I didn't get a ticket, all i got was a education on were a plate should be mounted on a bike. I have dug so far into the Az laws between my wife who works for the city in the crime lab, a few of my cop friends and a biker attorney. They all told me that there is no law on were it has to be mounted as long as it is mounted on the back, visible from the rear, not the side , from the rear. Evey custom sold in Az has the plate left mounted by the axle, mine will stay the same until a real law come out saying otherwise.

you also have to remember that just cause hes a cop doesnt mean that he cant be wrong. Should you get a ticket, then that is for the courts to decide.

 

[hyredgunn]

Well guys, The same location, same time of day, and same cop, I got the ticket this time. $140.00 or go to court and fight it, You better bielve i will fight it. Improper licence plate location. I will let the courts decide, May 25th.

 

[macxpert]

Here in Australia we have a national law that states the number plate must be visible a full 180 deg from the rear. Which in reality means leaving it where it is stock. Some custom builders French in a recess in the rear mud guard (fender) for the plate but most of us just leave it where the factory puts it and throw a chrome dress frame on and call it a day.

You will get a ticket if you use a side mount and if you get caught during the Gold Coast bike week with a side mount then your bike will be impounded on the spot. It will be defected and impounded during bike week for any violation of vehicle laws not just side mount plates and loud pipes. It is just the state of QLD getting "tough" on bikers.

 

[NMUCat]

Hyredgunn - that sucks...the cop must be part of the 1% asshole group. The majority of us wouldnt look twice at a plate violation unless we needed it as reasonable susp for a stop to dig further. I would fight it to get a 100% ruleing on this one. If it turns out in your favor, I would get the judges decision in writing and keep copy with your bike.

I cant remember the last time I wrote a license plate citation and nothing else. What did you do prior to, during the stop? Did you get mouthy? Just trying to figure out if anything besides the cop "wrote" the ticket.

 

[hyredgunn]

Hyredgunn - that sucks...the cop must be part of the 1% asshole group. The majority of us wouldnt look twice at a plate violation unless we needed it as reasonable susp for a stop to dig further. I would fight it to get a 100% ruleing on this one. If it turns out in your favor, I would get the judges decision in writing and keep copy with your bike.

I cant remember the last time I wrote a license plate citation and nothing else. What did you do prior to, during the stop? Did you get mouthy? Just trying to figure out if anything besides the cop "wrote" the ticket.

No i didnt have ant other reason to be pulled over, the first time he only asked for my licence, he ran it and gave it back, then told me about his reason, Licence plate location, he called it a educational stop. This time he saw me and said he stoped me for the same thing, he then told me because i didnt fix the plate he had no choice but to issue a ticket. I asked one of the officers, there was 6, why I didnt hear about any of my friend getting pulled over during Az bike week, he said that they have special laws during that time, to many bikes on the road. I did look up the new Harley Nightser, it comes out of the factory with a side mout plate, in fact 4 new models have the same, how is that leagel. I have pictures of bikes from show rooms around the valley with the same thing. If there is a law out there about plate location, why are they selling bike this way!!!! After the ticket was issued he told me we can do this every week untill i change it, I cant afford 140.00 week for his ignorance. There are better way for our tax money to be spent.

 

[hyredgunn]

I would expect that the citation has a reference number to the traffic code. Shouldn't be too hard to research the validity. Or, you could just trundle down to the police station and ask to be shown the legislation. Just don't ride your fury to the cop shop unless you have moved your plate. Odds are this is not a recreational sport for the issuing officer .

I have a copy of the Az law SR 28-2354 with me on the bike after the first stop, I showed it to him. He said that there is more to the licence plate law than the law explaines.


N28-2354. License plates; attachment; civil penalty

A. A person shall display the license plate or plates as follows:

1. For a motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer, on the rear.

2. For a vehicle for which two license plates are issued, the vehicle owner shall display either of the following:

(a) One plate on the rear.

(b) One plate on the front and one plate on the rear.

B. A person shall display all license plates as required by subsection A until their lawful use expires or is canceled or revoked. A person shall maintain each license plate so it is clearly legible. A person shall securely fasten each license plate to the vehicle as follows:

1. To prevent the plate from swinging.

2. At a height of at least twelve inches from the ground to the bottom of the plate.

3. In a position to be clearly visible.

C. A person shall maintain each license plate so that the name of this state at the top of the license plate is not obscured.

D. A peace officer shall not stop or issue a citation to a person operating a motor vehicle on a highway in this state for a violation of subsection C of this section unless the peace officer has reasonable cause to believe there is another alleged violation of a motor vehicle law of this state.

E. If a person violates subsection C of this section, the person is subject to a civil penalty of thirty dollars, except that if a person violates subsection C of this section within twelve months after the date of a prior violation of subsection C of this section, the person is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars.
ow how is that