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License Plate Mounting Laws by State

19K views 20 replies 18 participants last post by  evilseed 
#1 ·


Edit: Moved TN info to its own post so the map could be prominent.
 
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#2 ·
Pennsylvania:
Full: http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter47/chap47toc.html

§ 47.3. Manner of attachment.

Every registration plate shall be securely fastened to the vehicle:

(1) So as to be clearly visible.

(2) In a horizontal position.

(3) At a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the registration plate.

(4) So as to prevent the registration plate from swinging.

Source

The provisions of this § 47.3 adopted August 19, 1977, effective August 20, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 2361; readopted September 8, 1989, effective September 9, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 3828. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (95332).
 
#3 ·
Ohio

(A) No person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the front and rear of the motor vehicle the distinctive number and registration mark, including any county identification sticker and any validation sticker issued under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191 of the Revised Code, furnished by the director of public safety, except that a manufacturer of motor vehicles or dealer therein, the holder of an in transit permit, and the owner or operator of a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, manufactured home, mobile home, trailer, or semitrailer shall display on the rear only. A motor vehicle that is issued two license plates shall display the validation sticker only on the rear license plate, except that a commercial tractor that does not receive an apportioned license plate under the international registration plan shall display the validation sticker on the front of the commercial tractor. An apportioned vehicle receiving an apportioned license plate under the international registration plan shall display the license plate only on the front of a commercial tractor and on the rear of all other vehicles. All license plates shall be securely fastened so as not to swing, and shall not be covered by any material that obstructs their visibility.
No person to whom a temporary license placard or windshield sticker has been issued for the use of a motor vehicle under section 4503.182 of the Revised Code, and no operator of that motor vehicle, shall fail to display the temporary license placard in plain view from the rear of the vehicle either in the rear window or on an external rear surface of the motor vehicle, or fail to display the windshield sticker in plain view on the rear window of the motor vehicle. No temporary license placard or windshield sticker shall be covered by any material that obstructs its visibility.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.


http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4503.21

Other quick info.
http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/misc/traffic_rules.htm

Other states-
http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/laws.asp
 
#4 ·
Georgia

1. Plate shall be fastened to the rear of the vehicle in a position so as not to swing and shall be at all times plainly visible.

2. No license plate shall be covered with any material unless the material is colorless and transparent. No apparatus that obstructs or hinders the clear display and legibility of a license plate shall be attached to the rear of any motor vehicle required to be registered in the state.


Source:

GEORGIA CODE

TITLE 40. MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 2. REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES
ARTICLE 2. REGISTRATION AND LICENSING GENERALLY

O.C.G.A. § 40-2-41 (2008)

§ 40-2-41. Display of license plates


Unless otherwise permitted under this chapter, every vehicle required to be registered under this chapter, which is in use upon the highways, shall at all times display the license plate issued to the owner for such vehicle, and the No person shall display on the rear of a motor vehicle any temporary or permanent plate or tag not issued by the State of Georgia which is intended to resemble a license plate which is issued by the State of Georgia. The commissioner is authorized to adopt rules and regulations so as to permit the display of a license plate on the front of certain vehicles. It shall be the duty of the operator of any vehicle to keep the license plate legible at all times. No license plate shall be covered with any material unless the material is colorless and transparent. No apparatus that obstructs or hinders the clear display and legibility of a license plate shall be attached to the rear of any motor vehicle required to be registered in the state. Any person who violates any provision of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

HISTORY: Ga. L. 1927, p. 226, § 8; Code 1933, § 68-215; Ga. L. 1977, p. 596, § 1; Code 1981, § 40-2-38; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1584, §§ 3, 6; Code 1981, § 40-2-41, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 2; Ga. L. 1991, p. 779, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 40; Ga. L. 1997, p. 419, § 10; Ga. L. 2000, p. 523, § 3.
 
#5 ·
I dug this up for a project I'm considering. It took a while to track down so I thought it was worth posting up here for posterity. This is for Tennessee.

==============================================

TN Code Annotated – Plate Display

Section 55-4-110

a) The registration plate issued for passenger motor vehicles shall be attached on the rear of the vehicle. The registration plate issued for those trucks with a manufacturer's ton rating not exceeding three-quarter (¾) ton and having a panel or pickup body style, and also those issued for all motor homes, regardless of ton rating or body style thereof, shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The registration plate issued for all other trucks and truck tractors shall be attached to the front of the vehicle. All dealers' plates, as provided in § 55-4-221, and those registration plates issued for motorcycles, trailers or semitrailers shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

(b) Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so to prevent the plate from swinging and at a height of not less than twelve inches (12) from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible. No tinted materials may be placed over a license plate even if the information upon such license plate is not concealed.


(c) (1) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor. All proceeds from the fines imposed by this subsection (c) shall be deposited in the state general fund.


(2) A person charged with a violation of this section may, in lieu of appearance in court, submit a fine of ten dollars ($10.00) for a first violation, and twenty dollars ($20.00) on second and subsequent violations to the clerk of the court which has jurisdiction of such offense within the county in which the offense charged is alleged to have been committed.


[Acts 1951, ch. 70, § 46 (Williams, § 5538.146); Acts 1953, ch. 167, § 7; 1955, ch. 52, § 5; 1957, ch. 108, § 1; 1959, ch. 26, § 2; 1973, ch. 234, § 3; 1974, ch. 525, § 2; 1975, ch. 128, § 2; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-410; Acts 2004, ch. 698, §§ 1, 2.]
 
#6 ·
Virginia:



§ 46.2-715. Display of license plates.

License plates assigned to a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, tractor truck, trailer, or semitrailer, or to persons licensed as motor vehicle dealers or transporters of unladen vehicles, shall be attached to the front and the rear of the vehicle. The license plate assigned to a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The license plate assigned to a tractor truck shall be attached to the front of the vehicle. The license plates issued to licensed motor vehicle dealers and to persons licensed as transporters of unladen vehicles shall consist of one plate for each set issued and shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle to which it is assigned.

(Code 1950, § 46-101; 1954, c. 210; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-106; 1972, c. 609; 1974, c. 150; 1989, c. 727.)



§ 46.2-716. How license plates fastened to vehicle; altering appearance of license plates.

A. Every license plate shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to which it is assigned:

1. So as to prevent the plate from swinging,

2. In a position to be clearly visible, and

3. In a condition to be clearly legible.

B. No colored glass, colored plastic, bracket, holder, mounting, frame, or any other type of covering shall be placed, mounted, or installed on, around, or over any license plate if such glass, plastic, bracket, holder, mounting, frame, or other type of covering in any way alters or obscures (i) the alpha-numeric information, (ii) the color of the license plate, (iii) the name or abbreviated name of the state wherein the vehicle is registered, or (iv) any character or characters, decal, stamp, or other device indicating the month or year in which the vehicle's registration expires. No insignia, emblems, or trailer hitches or couplings shall be mounted in such a way as to hide or obscure any portion of the license plate or render any portion of the license plate illegible.

C. The Superintendent may make such regulations as he may deem advisable to enforce the proper mounting and securing of the license plate on the vehicle.

(Code 1950, § 46-102; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-107; 1960, c. 119; 1986, c. 186; 1989, c. 727; 2000, c. 258; 2001, c. 19; 2006, c. 549.)
 
#7 ·
Oh - in addition to what Rocketgirl posted:
VIRGINIA
Every motorcycle shall carry at the rear at least one or more red lights plainly visible in clear weather from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Such tail lights shall be constructed and so mounted in their relation to the rear license plate as to illuminate the license plate with a white light so that the same may be read from a distance of 50 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Alternatively, a separate white light shall be so mounted as to illuminate the rear license plate from a distance of 50 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Any such tail lights or special white light shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.
 
#10 ·
Indiana:

IC 9-18-2-26
License plates; display
Sec. 26. (a) License plates shall be displayed as follows:
(1) For a motorcycle, trailer, semitrailer, or recreational vehicle, upon the rear of the vehicle.
(2) For a tractor or dump truck, upon the front of the vehicle.
(3) For every other vehicle, upon the rear of the vehicle.
(b) A license plate shall be securely fastened, in a horizontal position, to the vehicle for which the plate is issued:
(1) to prevent the license plate from swinging;
(2) at a height of at least twelve (12) inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the license plate;
(3) in a place and position that are clearly visible;
(4) maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible; and
(5) not obstructed or obscured by tires, bumpers, accessories, or other opaque objects.
(c) The bureau may adopt rules the bureau considers advisable to enforce the proper mounting and securing of license plates on vehicles consistent with this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.210-2005, SEC.22; P.L.42-2007, SEC.18.
 
#11 ·
Here's what I found for Washington state:

RCW 46.16.240
Attachment of plates to vehicles — Violations enumerated.


The vehicle license number plates shall be attached conspicuously at the front and rear of each vehicle for which the same are issued and in such a manner that they can be plainly seen and read at all times. However, if only one license number plate is legally issued for any vehicle such plate shall be conspicuously attached to the rear of such vehicle. Each vehicle license number plate shall be placed or hung in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground and shall be kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times. In cases where the body construction of the vehicle is such that compliance with this section is impossible, permission to deviate therefrom may be granted by the state patrol. It shall be unlawful to display upon the front or rear of any vehicle, vehicle license number plate or plates other than those furnished by the director for such vehicle or to display upon any vehicle any vehicle license number plate or plates which have been in any manner changed, altered, disfigured or have become illegible. License plate frames may be used on vehicle license number plates only if the frames do not obscure license tabs or identifying letters or numbers on the plates and the plates can be plainly seen and read at all times. It is unlawful to use any holders, frames, or any materials that in any manner change, alter, or make the vehicle license number plates illegible. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle unless there shall be displayed thereon valid vehicle license number plates attached as herein provided.


And this....

RCW 46.37.050
Tail lamps.


(1) After January 1, 1964, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in RCW 46.37.020, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1939, shall have at least one tail lamp. On a combination of vehicles only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

(2) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches.

(3) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.
 
#16 ·
Illinois

(625 ILCS 5/3‑413) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3‑413)
Sec. 3‑413. Display of registration plates, registration stickers and drive‑away permits.
(a) Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, semitrailer, truck‑tractor, apportioned bus, or apportioned truck shall be attached thereto, one in the front and one in the rear. The registration plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer required to be registered hereunder and any apportionment plate issued to a bus under the provisions of this Code shall be attached to the rear thereof. The registration plate issued for a truck‑tractor or an apportioned truck required to be registered hereunder shall be attached to the front thereof.
(b) Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging and at a height of not less than 5 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained in a condition to be clearly legible, free from any materials that would obstruct the visibility of the plate, including, but not limited to, glass covers and plastic covers. Registration stickers issued as evidence of renewed annual registration shall be attached to registration plates as required by the Secretary of State, and be clearly visible at all times.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilc...SeqEnd=61700000&ActName=Illinois+Vehicle+Code.
 
#18 ·
I am a respect full rider on all my machines ... I sport and supermoto bikes ... I ride the back roads just north of Trenton NJ , you get lots of cars that will go out of there way to drive well below the speed limit or just try and mess with you .
We basicly just want to keep moving ... my buddy received a letter in the mail to the effect that he was driving reckless manner a such township .
It never went any farther than that .
I am a engineer by trade and designed a really cool Pneumatic system that uses a tiny cylinder to flip the plate 180 degree's and its hidden by the license plate light ... its really a cool option that keeps the plate in the stock location ... You would never know it was there ... Its the James Bond SV650 ...LOL
 
#19 ·
For Oregon:

803.540 Failure to display plates; exceptions;
penalty. (1) A person commits the
offense of failure to display registration
plates if the person operates, on the highways
of this state, any vehicle or camper
that has been assigned registration plates by
this state and the registration plates assigned
to the vehicle or camper are displayed
in a manner that violates any of the following:
(a) The plate must be displayed on the
rear of the vehicle, if only one plate is required.
(b) Plates must be displayed on the front
and rear of the vehicle if two plates are required.
(c) The plates must be in plain view and
so as to be read easily by the public.
(d) The plate must not be any plate that
does not entitle the holder thereof to operate
the vehicle upon the highways.
(2) A person is not in violation of this
section if the person is operating a vehicle
or camper under and in accordance with the
requirements for any of the following:
(a) A temporary application permit issued
under ORS 803.615.
(b) An agent temporary registration permit
issued under ORS 803.625.
(c) Provisions established under ORS
826.007, 826.009 or 826.011 for the display of
registration plates or other evidence of registration
on vehicles that are proportionally
registered under ORS 826.009 or 826.011.
(3) The offense described in this section,
failure to display registration plates, is a
Class D traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §261; 1985
c.668 §13; 1989 c.43 §28; 1995 c.383

803.550 Illegal alteration or display of
plates
; penalty. (1) A person commits the
offense of illegal alteration or illegal display
of a registration plate if the person knowingly
does any of the following:
(a) Illegally alters a registration plate in
a manner described in subsection (2) of this
section.
(b) Causes a registration plate to be illegally
displayed as described in subsection (3)
of this section.
(c) Operates any vehicle that is displaying
a registration plate that is illegally altered
in a manner described in subsection (2)
of this section or that is illegally displayed
as described in subsection (3) of this section.
(d) Owns and causes or permits a vehicle
to display a registration plate that is illegally
altered in a manner described in subsection
(2) of this section or that is illegally displayed
as described in subsection (3) of this
section.
(2) A registration plate is illegally altered
for purposes of this section if the plate has
been altered, modified, covered or obscured
in any manner including, but not limited to,
the following:
(a) Any change of the color, configuration,
numbers, letters or material of the
plate.
(b) Any material or covering, other than
a frame or plate holder, placed on, over or in
front of the plate that alters the appearance
of the plate.
(c) Any frame or plate holder that obscures
the numbers, letters or registration
stickers, so as to render them unreadable.
(3) A registration plate is illegally displayed
for purposes of this section if the
plate:
(a) Is displayed on a vehicle other than
the vehicle for which the plate was issued;
or
(b) Displays registration stickers that
contain an expiration date that is different
from the expiration date shown upon the vehicle
registration records of the Department
of Transportation.
(4) Subsection (2) of this section does not
apply to the following:
(a) Any placement of registration stickers
described under ORS 803.555.
(b) Any public official who displays or
performs any alteration of a registration
plate in the course of official duties.
(c) Any special interest registration plate
approved under ORS 805.210.
(5) Subsection (3)(a) of this section does
not apply to a vehicle dealer authorized to
use and operate vehicles displaying the dealer′
s plates under ORS 822.040.
(6) The offense described in this section,
illegal alteration or illegal display of a registration
plate, is a Class B traffic violation.

816.090 Registration plate lights. Each
of the following is a requirement for registration
plate lights as described:
(1) A registration plate light shall be so
constructed and placed as to illuminate the
rear registration plate of the vehicle.
(2) A registration plate light may either
be constructed as a separate light or as part
of a taillight.
(3) A registration plate light shall show
a white light.
(4) A registration plate light shall render
the rear registration plate clearly legible
from a distance of 50 feet to the rear.
(5) A registration plate light shall be
wired so as to be lighted whenever the
headlights or auxiliary lights are lighted.
[1983 c.338 §458 (6); 1985 c.16 §240 (6); 1985 c.69 §1 (6);
1985 c.71 §4 (6); 1985 c.393 §13 (6); 1985 c.420 §6 (6)]

My personal comment, there doesn't seem to be anything against vertical mounting in Oregon, I've even seen bikes in dealer show rooms with vertical mounted plates. I wouldn't be comfortable with it though, just another excuse to get harassed.
 
#21 ·
Tape the license plate to your passenger seat aimed at the sky and if you get pulled over just tell them most of the time your in a 12 o clock wheelie.
 
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