Calling Florida captains...license plate Question

Bondysbike

Turbocharged
Joined
Aug 20, 2016
Messages
773
Location
Florida via Liverpool.
Ride
Rocket Roadster
so , some debate over the issue of side mounted license plate mounted vertically. There seem to be an issue with the law and the application of it.
The law says you can mount your license plate vertically IF you also have a prepaid toll pass on the bike.
Looking into this though and after speaking to several inebriated Harley riders at the local dive , it seems that our friends in uniform are pretty vague on this and if pulled over saying ‘nope must be horizontal’

Any of you have experience of this? I’m about to install a customer rear fender and like the neatness of the plate being side mounted vertically but not at the cost of being pulled over to have to debate this law all the time.

Here is the section relating to the law on this:

The license tag of a motorcycle or moped may be affixed horizontally to the ground so that the numbers and letters read from left to right. Alternatively, a license tag for a motorcycle or moped for which the numbers and letters read from top to bottom may be affixed perpendicularly to the ground, provided that the registered owner of the motorcycle or moped maintains a prepaid toll account in good standing and a transponder associated with the prepaid toll account is affixed to the motorcycle or moped.

In Simple Terms: You can have a Vertical License Plate on your motorcycle if you have a toll transponder affixed to the motorcycle and a pre-paid toll account in good standing.
 
It seems simple enough. Would you use a toll account, or just put some money into one so you could use the transponder exception? Just carry a copy of the code with you so you don't have to stand in the sun arguing with the Po-Po. You can also do like a few of us did here in WA on the legality of Open Carry, offer to help write a training bulletin that outlines the law so it can be used by the various departments in your area. It may just be that some of them don't know about the exception.

bob
 
Once upon a time in Florida you could not have a vertical mount plate, they changed it quite a few years ago so vertical plates are again legal but remember they must be illuminated.
OOps sorry my wife called before I could finish--anyhoo yes you must have a valid transponder or if the bike came from the factory with the plate vertical as standard then no transponder is needed.
 
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Just called my fellow riding instructor who is a Captain in the Sheriff's office, his answer was he does not know any cop that would pull you over as long as they can read it , now try stuffing it up under your wheel well like sport bike riders do and they will come down hard on you.
 
so , some debate over the issue of side mounted license plate mounted vertically. There seem to be an issue with the law and the application of it.
The law says you can mount your license plate vertically IF you also have a prepaid toll pass on the bike.
Looking into this though and after speaking to several inebriated Harley riders at the local dive , it seems that our friends in uniform are pretty vague on this and if pulled over saying ‘nope must be horizontal’

Any of you have experience of this? I’m about to install a customer rear fender and like the neatness of the plate being side mounted vertically but not at the cost of being pulled over to have to debate this law all the time.

Here is the section relating to the law on this:

The license tag of a motorcycle or moped may be affixed horizontally to the ground so that the numbers and letters read from left to right. Alternatively, a license tag for a motorcycle or moped for which the numbers and letters read from top to bottom may be affixed perpendicularly to the ground, provided that the registered owner of the motorcycle or moped maintains a prepaid toll account in good standing and a transponder associated with the prepaid toll account is affixed to the motorcycle or moped.

In Simple Terms: You can have a Vertical License Plate on your motorcycle if you have a toll transponder affixed to the motorcycle and a pre-paid toll account in good standing.

FYI -
Regardless of your local laws, Coppers do not like the vertical side mount plate.
It is difficult to read if viewed from an angle opposite the location.
If not present, they may nip you for no plate light.
Just sayin' . . .
 
Do they 'nip you' for size too? Regardless of state but curious as here in UK it is a bit different. You will have the correct size plate, correct orientation, correct font, correct BSAU number etc....
 
What does having a transponder to do with plate mounting? It just shows you the state has no problem with the plate, they just want to squeeze more money from you!
 
That's exactly what I was thinking. Why do motorcycles even have to pay a toll. We are in the upper tier of fuel conservation, less wear and tear on the roads, etc.
 
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