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License plate mounting- dual sport bikes

M

mtnmac

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Location
Boulder Creek
Moto(s)
KLR 650, KTM 400, GL 1000, CR 250M, MR175, XR100, SL125
On July 4 I recieved a warning from a CA state parks ranger regarding my license plate on a dual sport bike. He repeatedly said that the law had changed in 2012 and the plate had to be perpendicular to the ground. The bike has an aftermarket dual sport light/plate mount, typical of what I see on most street legal dirt bikes. I researched the issue and this seems to be the relevant code:

5201. (a) License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible, and so that the characters are upright and display from left to right, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible. The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground, except as follows:

Doesn't say perpendicular anywhere, but I suppose the section where it says characters are upright could be interpreted as such. My question is how strictly is this enforced?
 
mtnmac said:
On July 4 I recieved a warning from a CA state parks ranger regarding my license plate on a dual sport bike. He repeatedly said that the law had changed in 2012 and the plate had to be perpendicular to the ground. The bike has an aftermarket dual sport light/plate mount, typical of what I see on most street legal dirt bikes. I researched the issue and this seems to be the relevant code:

5201. (a) License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible, and so that the characters are upright and display from left to right, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible. The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground, except as follows:

Doesn't say perpendicular anywhere, but I suppose the section where it says characters are upright could be interpreted as such. My question is how strictly is this enforced?
Click to expand...

I don't think there is any "interpreting" to do. The code says the characters need to be upright. Sideways is not upright.
 
The plate was not sideways, it was attached under the rear fender at maybe a 30 degree angle. The code I cited clearly says sideways plates illegal, I was aware of that.
 
Perpendicular isn't the word he was searching for, perhaps "parallel"? When you try to use big words, you often wix your mords up...
 
mtnmac said:
My question is how strictly is this enforced?
Click to expand...

Enforcement varies. In SF this business is a low priority. In other locales it serves as a reason for a stop.

Plates relocated from the stock location or installed/oriented at odd angles are just more LEO bait for a possible stop and talk or a fixit tickit.

How much LEO bait (or aka going from a radar blip to bogey) do you want to advertise?

Weigh the pros/cons and fight the fight or just move/bend the plate to comply.
 
mototireguy said:
Enforcement varies. In SF this business is a low priority. In other locales it serves as a reason for a stop.

Plates relocated from the stock location or installed/oriented at odd angles are just more LEO bait for a possible stop and talk or a fixit tickit.

How much LEO bait (or aka going from a radar blip to bogey) do you want to advertise?

Weigh the pros/cons and fight the fight or just move/bend the plate to comply.
Click to expand...

I hear you, and that is my attitude with all my vehicles. Try to be as legal as possible, don't attract attention. But this is really a matter of function. Those of us who use our bikes in the dirt have the plate mounted that way so it doesn't get ripped off by the rear tire when the suspension bottoms out.
I could probably make a new mount that will change the angle and increase the visibility.

I was not pulled over for the plate, but sitting on the side of the road working on another bike when he pulled over, asked what the problem was and then started looking the bikes over.

Would be nice to hear what the LEOs think of plates mounted like this.
 
mtnmac said:
I hear you, and that is my attitude with all my vehicles. Try to be as legal as possible, don't attract attention. But this is really a matter of function. Those of us who use our bikes in the dirt have the plate mounted that way so it doesn't get ripped off by the rear tire when the suspension bottoms out.
I could probably make a new mount that will change the angle and increase the visibility.

I was not pulled over for the plate, but sitting on the side of the road working on another bike when he pulled over, asked what the problem was and then started looking the bikes over.

Would be nice to hear what the LEOs think of plates mounted like this.
Click to expand...

You mean besides the one that actually saw your plate and told you what he thinks? :p

The code also states, "shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible". If the plate is tilted up (or down) it might be visible, but not clearly visible.
 
I prefer the safety wire mount style

When it falls off. it makes a nice clapping sound.
The person who wrote the law
Doesn't ride enduros.
I prefer to have a plate. than not at all..
Function over form works for me.
Never got a ticket or a warning!!
 

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bojangle said:
You mean besides the one that actually saw your plate and told you what he thinks? :p

The code also states, "shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible". If the plate is tilted up (or down) it might be visible, but not clearly visible.
Click to expand...

Well, the ranger questioned other things on the bikes, all of which were legal.
And he was very specific, used the word perpendicular several times.
Was just interested in some other opinions. And yes, I agree with you. The plate could be mounted so it is more visible but still be ok off road. It seems like visibility should be the primary factor, not some arbitrary standard that is not clearly defined in the vehicle code.
 
buellistic said:
I prefer the safety wire mount style

When it falls off. it makes a nice clapping sound.
The person who wrote the law
Doesn't ride enduros.
I prefer to have a plate. than not at all..
Function over form works for me.
Never got a ticket or a warning!!
Click to expand...

That's good... and exactly my point.
I can't remember a dual sport event I have ridden and not heard of riders
missing plates. Typical for the Sheetiron to have 4 or 5 found plates turned in at the end of the ride.
 
That mounting is questionable only because of the angle the plate is at. I wouldn't write it, but I would definitely tell you how to better mount it for less trouble (just like the park ranger did...).
 
Aaaahhhh, perpendicular may have actually been the correct word. We were assuming a different axis. Are you only using the two top fasteners? Maybe find some plastic rod and cut it at an angle and insert between the plate and the bracket to angle it down more.
 
Nick said:
That mounting is questionable only because of the angle the plate is at. I wouldn't write it, but I would definitely tell you how to better mount it for less trouble (just like the park ranger did...).
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think it can be changed to be more in compliance with the law.
 
bojangle said:
The code also states, "shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible". If the plate is tilted up (or down) it might be visible, but not clearly visible.
Click to expand...

The code doesn't say " perpendicular". The way I'm reading this the ranger wanted the plate to be perpendicular to horizontal (ie vertical). I believe that a plate slightly angled from vertical could actually be more visible on some bikes. If a LEO disagreed they would articulate why they feel it's not "clearly visible".
 
tgrrdr said:
The code doesn't say " perpendicular". The way I'm reading this the ranger wanted the plate to be perpendicular to horizontal (ie vertical). I believe that a plate slightly angled from vertical could actually be more visible on some bikes. If a LEO disagreed they would articulate why they feel it's not "clearly visible".
Click to expand...

The ranger said perpendicular to the road surface. Almost impossible to do on these bikes, without using the original equipment mount which is a huge piece of plastic waiting to be ripped off on some desolate trail.
 
Don't get too hung up on making it exactly perpendicular because that's the word that was used, just make it a little better.
 
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